Parents of children with special needs sometimes fight invisible battles that often warrant unsolicited judgment from others.
But through these battles, these parents learn unconditional love and understanding, persistent acceptance, and most of all, that some strangers will extend the same to their children.
Taylor Pomilla, a single mom, found herself on the receiving end of such kindness when she and her son were out on a commute.
In a Facebook post that has been shared 17,000 times, she narrated the magical moment she and her son will never forget.
View this post on Instagram
Pomilla and her son Andrew always take the subway when going home from school. They are both so used to this routine that Pomilla already has ways to calm Andrew down when needed, and Andrew can sit patiently as long as he can focus on something else like his iPad or some sweet treats.
But as parents of children with autism, there are good days and those that take a lot more patience.
They had one of those challenging days.
Andrew can get a bit overwhelmed by his emotions that when he gets upset, it will go “two steps too far, and escalate into a full-on meltdown/breakdown.”
On that day, he was persistent in getting out of his seat and stand in the middle of the train as it was moving. This could injure Andrew and his mom wanted to protect him at all costs.
Andrew didn’t take it too well and began to lose control of his emotions.
And Pomilla knew that when his “regular toddler tantrum turned into a meltdown” it gets to a “point of no return”. He started rolling on the floor. He was screaming and thrashing the entire time. Pomilla did her very best to calm Andrew down because she knew how people perceive these situations.
“Then he starts the kicking, hitting, pulling my hair while everyone in rush hour stares on the train, most thinking I was a bad parent who had an out of control child, even though really he can’t help it.”
They had to get off the train. At that point, even if this wasn’t Pomilla’s first time helping Andrew, she was also close to crying in pure frustration and sadness that her son was being judged by people.
But one stranger walked towards them.
Pomilla started to panic until she realized it was a Metro Police Officer. As soon as he walked over, Andrew froze. The officer then asked if they needed any help.
Pomilla explained the situation and that the station was 30 minutes away from their stop. And when she mentioned where they were headed, the officer said without an ounce of hesitation, “Okay, I’ll come on the train”.
No, he didn’t mean to take them down the platform.
The officer, only known to her as “D.Case”, sat with them during the entire trip.
He even offered Andrew his Velcro badge and asked him to help him to police work on the train.
He acted interested when Andrew was showing him silly videos and made funny faces when they used Instagram filters.
Pomilla, Andrew, and Officer Case reunited eventually on the same platform they met. She thanked him personally for the kindness that meant the world to her and Andrew.
At a time when people are quicker to judge than to help, Officer Case did the opposite.
I wanted to take a few minutes to share something incredible that happened today. This afternoon I picked up Andrew from…
Posted by Taylor Pomilla onFriday, July 19, 2019
He chose understanding and compassion, towards a family who was doing their best every day. And these acts, no matter how small, can make the world a better place.
Watch how this gesture of kindness made this officer a hero for a kid with special needs in the video below!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
