Caring Strangers Help Overwhelmed Pregnant Mom As Toddler Has Tantrum At Airport

by SharonKurheg

The media is so quick to write about the horrible things that happen at airports – the latest infraction by United or RyanAir or TSA workers, or even when we’re downright mean to each other – that they (and perhaps we) tend to lose sight of the good and even wonderful things that can happen there. This is one of those wonderful things.

The following was posted by Beth Bornstein Dunnington and is a true story of something in which she participated in while at LAX not long ago:

“Something extraordinary at LAX today… (writing this on the plane). I was at the gate, waiting to get on my plane to Portland. Flights to two different cities were boarding on either side of the Portland fight. A toddler who looked to be eighteen or so months old was having a total meltdown, running between the seats, kicking and screaming, then lying on the ground, refusing to board the plane (which was not going to Portland). His young mom, who was clearly pregnant and traveling alone with her son, became completely overwhelmed… she couldn’t pick him up because he was so upset, he kept running away from her, then lying down on the ground, kicking and screaming again. The mother finally sat down on the floor and put her head in her hands, with her kid next to her still having a meltdown, and started crying. Then, this gorgeous thing (I’m crying just writing this)… the women in the terminal, there must have been six or seven of us, not women who knew each other, approached and surrounded her and the little boy and we knelt down and formed a circle around them. I sang “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” to the little boy… one woman had an orange that she peeled, one woman had a little toy in her bag that she let the toddler play with, another woman gave the mom a bottle of water. Someone else helped the mom get the kid’s sippy cup out of her bag and give it to him. It was so gorgeous, there was no discussion and no one knew anyone else, but we were able to calm them both down, and she got her child on the plane. Only women approached. After they went through the door we all went back to our separate seats and didn’t talk about it… we were strangers, gathering to solve something. It occurred to me that a circle of women, with a mission, can save the world. I will never forget that moment.”

Dunnington was interviewed by babble.com not long after the event, to whom she said, “She … [thanked us] profusely, as she headed towards the door to board the plane. She was so grateful, very emotional at what just transpired, and clearly relieved to get him on the plane and to wherever they were going.”

It’s sometimes hard to remember that random acts of kindness, especially in situations when others are under stress, are some of the best things we can give others. Even total strangers. The next time you’re traveling, spread some good karma!

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