By Ana Rubenstein
When I was a little girl, my mother taught me about Guardian Angels. I learned that they were these invisible, kind creatures that would help me whenever I needed them. They must have done a very good job with me when I was growing up. I never had a major accident, injury or any major personal losses when I was young (knock on wood). However, as I got older, at some point I stopped believing that they exist. Lately, though, I have been finding Guardian Angels everywhere, all the time. And before you think I am crazy, I need to tell you that they are not invisible and they don’t have wings. Guardian Angels are all those caring, kind, giving, ordinary, real people among us. They can show up as neighbors, teachers, doctors, nurses, family members or even as strangers.
Last week, I was lucky to identify many of my children’s Guardian Angels. One of them was a lady at a restaurant that locked eyes with me and signaled to me where my son was after I lost track of him for a few seconds. It was my daughter’s teacher who improvised her a healthy snack when we forgot to bring her lunch box to school. It was also my son’s teacher that held him when he was scared of the siren noise during a police officer visit at school. The other night, it was the babysitter who treated my kids with respect, love, and so much patience, and some honey to calm my daughter’s cough.
Every morning my kids and I meet another Guardian Angel, this volunteer father at our school carline that greets us with his sweet, genuine smile and asks my daughter “Are you ready to have a great day, Sophia?”. Sometimes we randomly meet Guardian Angels at different stores. They are cashiers that give my kids stickers, shower them with compliments and smile so big at them. There is this chef at Publix, for example, who always “wakes up” Sebastian, a fish toy, and has him say hello to my kids when we are grocery shopping. He might not know it, but it actually makes their day every time.
A few months ago, we found a Guardian Angel at a post office. He was a police officer who watched my daughter crying, disappointed at him for not having the police star sticker we asked for. His response to that was to deliver the sticker along with coloring books at our door, later that same day, and to invite us to visit a police station. No need to say that he made our day too.
Three of our favorite Guardian Angels though, are my mother — who is always one phone call and a 9-hour-flight away from offering any help I need— my mother-in-law — who is the best grandmother a child can ask for and who has been helping my husband and I to raise our children and keep our house more organized — and my husband — who has been such a present, involved, loving father to our kids. He was there holding my hand when our children were born and have always been there for me, having my back for the past 10 years.
I have to add to the list our kids’ pediatrician who makes doctor appointments something to look forward to. Somehow, he manages to always have a big smile and a warm hug to the kids and nice word to comfort mommy. Back in 2014, when my son was born and I was struggling with low breastmilk supply, three different Guardian Angels in form of women donated us enough breastmilk to feed our baby boy for months and to help me with some peace of mind.
I feel overwhelmed with love as I write about all these special Guardian Angels in our lives. I am glad they cannot pass by my side without being recognized and thanked anymore. To all real-life Guardian Angels out there who choose to be loving, caring and kind to the people around them, I love you and I thank you! Know that you all inspire me to be a Guardian Angel myself for the people I encounter on my way.
The Octopus Mama 