(I am someone who is quite curvy, and has always struggled with my weight and how I look. In fact, I don’t enjoy being in photographs or looking at myself in mirrors.  I am working on my laptop by myself, when suddenly twin ten-year-old girls I have never met before approach my table, and we have this conversation:)

Ten Year-Old #1: “Hi! I just wanted to say… you are so gorgeous!”

Me: *in complete shock* “Oh! Thank you! That was so nice of you!”

Ten Year-Old #1: “You’re welcome! And I really mean it… You are so pretty! Hey, [Ten-Year-Old #2], come here!” *points at me* “Doesn’t she look so pretty?”

Ten Year-Old #2: “You’re right!” *to me* “I agree with my sister… You are so beautiful!”

Me: “Thank you so much!”

(I then notice their mother… and spontaneously decide on this next action.)

Me: *to their mother* “Excuse me… your daughters just made my day! They came to my table and said I looked so pretty! Thank you for raising such nice daughters!”

Mom: “I’m glad… and you are welcome!”

Me: “I would like to buy them, and—” *notices she also has a third daughter* “—your [Younger, Shyer] daughter each a cookie. I insist.”

Ten-Year-Old Girls: “Wow! Thank you… and we hope to see you here again soon!”

(I wish those girls knew just how much I appreciated — and still appreciate — their spontaneous comments!)

(I have come out as a lesbian at age 20, and married a short three years later, when same-sex marriage is legal in my state, but not federally. Through all of this, my best friend from childhood has supported me; I am close with her family as well, but didn’t tell them, since they’re first-generation immigrants and very religious. I am talking with my friend about my honeymoon; my wife and I had a courthouse wedding just after legalization and so there was no ceremony.)

Me: “So anyway, we’ll be near you for the honeymoon trip, if you want to meet us for a quick lunch or something!”

Friend: “I’d love to, but you know I’m still living with my parents and they don’t want me to drive that far and go to [Major City] alone all day. You know how they are. But my mom is semi-retired and she would be happy to go with me!”

Me: “Okay, but meet us by yourself, okay? I mean, your mom doesn’t know about me and I don’t want it to be weird!”

Friend: “Haha. No, it won’t be weird. I told my family you were gay ages ago!”

Me: “…and?”

Friend: “No big deal at all! My family seems to think that, um, you’re still a good person, and at least you’re getting married instead of clubbing or hooking up! Now, let’s check our schedules!”

(Meeting my friend didn’t end up working out, but when my wife and I got home, there was a huge package by our door. Curious, I open it and read the note.)

Note: “[Friend] told me how your wife loves to cook, and you don’t have much house stuff since you’re young. So I hope you enjoy these. [Friend] and I wanted to go in on a nice gift! These are better for you than that nonstick cookware!”

(It was signed by my friend’s mother. I think I worried for no reason!)

This story is part of the misunderstood-lesbians-themed roundup!

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(My nephew’s favorite color is pink, which is probably my fault because I have a lot of Disney Princess stuff of the same color. We’re going to the toy store and he’s been told he can pick out two toys. Unsurprisingly, his first choice is a Sleeping Beauty doll because of her pink dress. He also chooses a fire truck and after, we get in line.)

Girl: *ahead of us, loudly* “Mommy, why does that boy have a princess doll? Princesses are for girls!”

(At this point, I’m afraid because my nephew has been made fun of for what he likes by kids AND adults, and it’s obvious he heard her because he frowns and hides behind me. However, the mother looks embarrassed by what her daughter has just said.)

Mother: “Because he likes dolls just like you do. It’s not nice to make people feel bad.”

Girl: “But girls like dolls!”

Mother: “Yes, and boys like dolls, too. Everybody can like dolls.”

Girl: “Everybody? Can Pepper like dolls?”

Mother: “Yes, Pepper can like dolls, too.”

(The girl seemed satisfied and was finally quiet. Her mother took her out of the cart to have her apologize to my nephew and me, and her mom explained “Pepper” is the name of their dog. My nephew felt better and got his toys. Although, Sleeping Beauty’s nickname is now “Pepper.”)

My mom has recently bought a new dining table and chairs, so she needs to get rid of her old one. I post an ad on a second-hands website to give it away for free, since it’s a quite old table, but in very good condition.

I quickly receive a reaction to the ad and we settle a date for the people to come and get the table. I also arrange for my husband to come at her place ASAP after his work to fix her new table.

My mom has recently been diagnosed with cancer and is in the middle of her treatment which shows by her wearing a headkerchief to cover her loss of hair, and she is not able to help lift the table since she has a PEG tube.

In the afternoon I receive a message from her:

“Those people were so nice! They immediately told me not to worry about lifting the table, and they even fixed my new one!”

This is something which made her very happy since she loves colouring and stuff, so she really needs a table.

It was a small gesture from those people, total strangers to my mom, but it really made me happy they did that!

My mom has recently bought a new dining table and chairs, so she needs to get rid of her old one. I post an ad on a second-hands website to give it away for free, since it’s a quite old table, but in very good condition.

I quickly receive a reaction to the ad and we settle a date for the people to come and get the table. I also arrange for my husband to come at her place ASAP after his work to fix her new table.

My mom has recently been diagnosed with cancer and is in the middle of her treatment which shows by her wearing a headkerchief to cover her loss of hair, and she is not able to help lift the table since she has a PEG tube.

In the afternoon I receive a message from her:

“Those people were so nice! They immediately told me not to worry about lifting the table, and they even fixed my new one!”

This is something which made her very happy since she loves colouring and stuff, so she really needs a table.

It was a small gesture from those people, total strangers to my mom, but it really made me happy they did that!