Blog #148~The Kindness of Strangers

Blog #148~The Kindness of Strangers

You’ve heard of the random acts of kindness from a stranger.  Someone picks up the tab of the car behind them in a Starbucks drive thru.  I’ve never been lucky enough to have my tall, mocha frappuccino paid for yet.  But over the weekend, something like this happened to Nick.  My son is 22 years old and has Down syndrome and autism.

On Saturday evening,  Nick went out to IHOP for dinner with his respite caregiver’s family.  Jodi and Kelsey said he was doing his usual antics; stimming, humming, laughing, doing elbow bumps and blowing snot rockets and wiping them on the booth.  (Or as we like to call it, spreading autism awareness).  There was a family behind them with two girls around the ages of 5 and 7 years old.  These girls were fascinated with Nick.  They watched his every move and were asking their dad  why he was acting that way.  Shortly after they left, the manager came over to their table and handed Jodi the tab.  He told them that the check had been paid for by the family with the two girls.

Tears welled up in their eyes.  It was such a heartfelt moment of gratitude. There are so many bad things that happen around us every day.  The horrific tragedy this weekend in Orlando makes us all question what is happening to our society.  We tend to tend to forget that there are still good people in this world.  Thank you family with the two girls, who dined at the IHOP in Aurora, IL. Thank  you for reminding us that there are people in this world who have compassion and gracious hearts.

That’s what is in my noggin this week.

~Teresa

Follow Nick:

@Down Syndrome With A Slice Of Autism

@Down Syndrome With A Slice Of Autism

#nickdsautism