“This restores my faith in humanity,” the Facebook status reads, attached to a link.
I click over because I’m a sucker for that type of description and everyone can use a little good news.
But then I read the story.
And it’s sweet. But…
I’ve heard this storyline before.
Child is kind to another child who happens to have special needs.
We aren’t talking saved the life of the other child, knocking him out of the way of a speeding bus. Not defending him from a bully or giving up a prized possession. It’s not doing anything out of the ordinary.
We’re talking occasionally sits next to this child at lunch, refers to him as “my friend,” and generally treats this child like any other child in the classroom.
I have a child on the spectrum. I know that often my son’s differences can stick out and cause other kids to treat him differently. That it’s harder for him to make friends. My heart does melt when I see other kids treating him like he’s just another classmate instead of “that weird kid who does strange stuff sometimes.”
That does restore my faith in humanity, kids being more inclusive to their peers who are different from them. I hate hearing stories of kids being picked on, whether they have special needs or not. I want my kids to be kind to others and it gives me the warm fuzzies when my kids or other kids are being kind.
But is it really that rare that we have to write about it, get it on the news, have it shared thousands of times on Facebook?
Your kid was nice to another human being. Congratulations, he’s not a jerk.
One of my other boys is introverted and often prefers the company of books(or Minecraft) to people. I wouldn’t gush over some classmate of his going out of their way to include him.
My third son is outgoing and everyone seems to clamor to be his friend. I don’t headpat the kids who want to share their snacks with him at recess. No one would feel like their child was doing anything extraordinary by being kind to him.
Yes, kids with special needs are different.
But, can’t we get to the point where we teach our kids to be kind to everyone? To not make it seem like they’re doing charity by talking to a child with special needs?
Unless what your child is doing would still be newsworthy even if you described the other child as just a child and not a child with special needs, it’s not being a hero, it’s being a decent human being.
Yes. This! As a mom to a PKUer, it’s why I tend to flinch during those special needs kid gets to score the final basket stories. I love that “typical” kids go out of their way to include those who might struggle more, but you’re correct, kudos should be held for the folks going above and beyond what’s considered basic human decency. I always watch the parents. Maybe I’m projecting my bittersweet feelings, but part of me wonders if they’re somewhat burned by those circumstances – how the parents of the average kid gets to go home and pat themselves on the back. What great kids we have, and whew, how we dodged that bullet.
I think my cynic is showing 🙂 I get you.
Then my cynic is showing, too. 😉 We’re on the same wavelength with this stuff.
Agree 100%!
EXCELLENT point Shell!!! Well said. my friend.
This. Entirely this. I feel like we see that so often now. “Look at my kid being nice to someone” like it’s the most rare thing. I try very hard to explain how to just be kind to everyone. Kids aren’t necessarily born with that so it’s our job to show then. Maybe that’s it; less parents showing them that.
I want my kids to be kind. I’ve said before that it means more to me that they’re kind than what their grades are or how they do in sports. It does need to be taught. I wish it were so commonplace that someone being kind wasn’t such a huge deal.
I couldn’t agree more. This always boggles my mind that we are so shocked or surprised when someone is just doing what is right. Why have we becomes so blinded by the negative that we think this is out of the ordinary. Not to downplay these wonderful kids but it just gives the jerks more of a pass when there behavior is out of line.
Yup, those kids being kind- yay! I love seeing it- but it seem strange that we make such a huge deal over it when it’s such a small act.
I agree with you completely.
Ugh. This does upset me. And it’s so sad that we’re coming to this in society. The fact that a “normal” kid being nice to a kid “with special needs” is rare enough for him to be considered a hero is kind of sad. I was nice to everyone growing up and I never got special recognition. lol And I didn’t want it. I just did what was right. I hope my kids are the same way. Talking to a child with special needs is not extraordinary. It’s expected. How else would you act toward them?
YES! YES! YES to everything you said.
I couldn’t agree more. I think it’s time we all start spreading just a little more kindness everywhere, right? Sometimes I worry for the future and for what we are becoming when we post statuses like this and think they’re okay. I dunno, just makes me sad.
I hope all is well with you. It’s so great to be back here today. XOXO
The problem is, there’s so much negativity in the world. By making ‘good’ newsworthy, it’s kind of the only battle tactic there is against it. Yes, kindness shouldn’t be newsworthy…it should be the norm.
But it’s nice to read about, anyways, opposed to what usually fills the news.