Although the holiday season often earns its reputation for the most wonderful time of year among children, it tends to take on a different character for adults.
Between the rush to figure out and then get what people in your family want and the expense that comes with it, it's natural for the lead-up to Christmas to feel more stressful than joyful. And when we're under a lot of pressure, that pressure can sometimes vent itself in some unpleasant ways.
One trip to the mall on Black Friday or Christmas Eve should tell us everything we need to know about that reality, but this stress can sometimes lead people to take their frustrations out on people who don't deserve it.
And sadly, nobody bears the brunt of that abuse more than those working in retail. One mom had a chance encounter that served as a stark reminder of this fact. And now that her post about it has gone viral, it can hopefully help us locate our best selves in these tense situations.