This morning, I was "that" mom. "That" hot mess of a mom, for real. Full Disclosure: I have used oil on my hair for a few days and it's super greasy. The time I expected to use to shower this morning was spent nursing, so it stayed greasy and slept in. I know that my greasy hair is full of clean, healthy oils. But nobody else knows that - so I just look a mess.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth is going around like mad right now. No, my kids don't have it - yet! I'm a bit paranoid and didn't want to risk it with the kids by sending them to hang out with other kids. Plus, I don't want to abuse my friend's generosity - she's already volunteered to watch the kids for me on late notice before. So, with my greasy matted hair and my all-black super-baggy pjs - and best of all, two noisy humans in tow - I headed to my physical therapy appointment.

Oh yeah. Not just regular grocery-store meltdown-in-the-checkout-line hot mess. This is full-on medical professional appointments with people who have doctorates. The perfect time to look like your life is a train wreck in motion, right?

One of the things I deeply appreciate about our new town is how *nice* everyone is! When people see me out and about with both kiddos in tow, I get sympathetic glances. But I get those anywhere, you know? In the few months I've been here, people have held doors for me. They've carried carseats to my car for me. They've given trucks to Shep when he's having a meltdown (yes, that really happened!).

So when I dragged both kids - one wearing a Spiderman mask as a hat - into the PT clinic, I was greeted with a smile. My PT himself has a daughter the same age as mine at home. While I run through my exercises, I showed them how I incorporate my 8-month-old into my routine. Let's not mention the fact that she was inconsolably crying and needed to be held almost the entire time. Nope, that had nothing to do with me doing bridges with my baby sitting on my hips. Or blowing in her face as I hold a plank. For fun, my PT even added a few "with baby" video examples of exercises for my homework.

At the end of my session, my kids fell asleep in the car on the way home. I ended up driving around, feeling particularly blessed to have somehow landed in a town full of people who don't just talk about being kind. The compassion I've been shown - it touches my hot mess mama heart.

The kindness my PT clinic showed me (shoutout to Brad and Kepros Physical Therapy!) helped restore my faith in humanity. I'm glad I got that little boost - because hours later, I learned that police had found the bodies of Shanann Watts and her daughters Bella and Celeste. When I needed it most, someone was kind to me - they saw my hot-mess-ness and extended me grace. I'm trying to go back to that moment, with my sleeping kids in the back seat, and the kindness of relative strangers buoying me as I drive. It was exactly what I needed to make it through the day.

Has anyone ever helped you when you were a hot mess and needed it most? Have you ever helped someone else who was on the struggle bus? Tell me more on Twitter @pi3sugarpi3.