My toddler made a huge mess in a public bathroom. A stranger's kindness saved us.

• I was newly postpartum and decided to take my kids to the mall for a change of scenery.
• My 4-year-old got soaked washing her hands while I was helping my oldest.
• I panicked since I had no extra clothes when a stranger offered me a new outfit for her for free.

I was newly post-partum with my fourth baby and feeling stir-crazy. I took my kids to an outdoor mall for lunch and fresh air. Even though it was December, I was willing to brave the cold in exchange for a few hours of contact with the outside world.

Getting four small children ready for Midwestern winter temperatures is no small feat. After bundling everyone up in their respective coats, scarves, hats, gloves, boots, and a snowsuit for the baby, we loaded into the car for our adventure. Everyone was in good spirits, and we were excited for a fun afternoon.

That changed quickly.

We stopped at the bathroom before getting started

We arrived at the outdoor mall with plenty of time to walk around before lunch. My oldest child, who was 5 at the time, told me she needed to use the bathroom. We piled into the stroller and made the long trek across the mall. "Good timing," I remember thinking. This way, we could get our potty trip out of the way and have plenty of time to explore.

Leaving the bathroom door slightly ajar, I left the stroller and my other two kids outside the stall where I could see them. My 2-year-old sat on the other side of the stroller happily playing with a toy, but my 4-year-old couldn't stop touching every knob, button, and surface in sight. I sternly told her to please wash her hands. Reluctantly, she agreed and shuffled over to the sink.

My toddler's hand-washing turned into a full-body affair

After helping my 5-year-old for longer than I planned, we finished up and flushed the toilet. Then, I noticed things were quiet — a little too quiet. It suddenly occurred to me that the sink was still running. My stomach dropped. My 4-year-old was still standing there, washing her hands, but I had a bad feeling.

I crept up next to her and asked if she was finished. She turned toward me, flashing me a cheeky grin, and I discovered that her light pink coat was dark with water.

"Did you get a little wet?" I asked, reaching for some paper towels to mop her sleeves. She nodded again, grinning even wider. She pointed at her legs, and I noticed that her pants were wet, too.

"Boots," she whispered. I quickly took off her coat and realized that she had been letting the sink water run down her sleeves, all the way down her trunk and legs until both boots had completely filled up.

A kind stranger took pity on us and saved our outing

I removed my daughter's coat and began to dry it with the hand dryer. Shockingly, it was the least wet item of clothing on her body. I quickly shuffled through my diaper bag, looking for spare clothes for her to change into, but nearly everything I had was infant-sized. The only thing I could find was a spare pair of underwear, and in the freezing December weather, it wouldn't have been enough to keep her warm.

I was just standing there, horrified, when the stall next to me opened. I hadn't realized there was someone else in the bathroom with us. An older woman stepped into the hand-washing station, eyes filled with pity, and gestured toward a bag she was holding.

"I heard what happened. Here, please take this."

She reached into her bag and handed me a clean pair of underwear, two pairs of socks, and a fresh pair of toddler leggings.

"I was shopping for my granddaughter, but you need these more!"

Stunned, my first instinct was to refuse her kindness, but she was so insistent that I reluctantly agreed. I thanked her profusely and asked if there was some way I could repay her, but she wouldn't even tell me her name.

"Pay it forward!" she insisted. With a wink and a smile, she was on her way, and just like that, we were warm and dry again.

I haven't yet had the opportunity to offer toddler underwear to a stranger in need, but if the situation ever arises, I won't hesitate. I will never forget her kindness in our time of need.