06/11/2025
Be kind to the teen behind the counter.
The one ringing up your groceries, handing you your coffee, bagging your food, or wiping down a table.
She might be sixteen, maybe seventeen. It could be his first job. Maybe her second week. They’re learning how to show up, speak up, take responsibility, and handle tough moments with a smile.
They’re standing on their feet for hours, figuring out how to navigate customers, coworkers, and all the expectations that come with being “on.”
They’re learning how to work hard, how to listen, how to deal with the world as it is and they’re doing it all while still figuring out who they are.
So please be kind to the teen behind the counter.
You never know whose kid that is.
You never know how proud someone is of them.
You never know what kind of courage it took just to show up today.
And honestly? They’re doing better than we ever give them credit for. ❤️
-Leslie Means
