Proud of your kid?

[smartyiak]

Have you ever been so proud of your kid you got teary eyed and felt compelled to share it with a bunch of (mostly) complete strangers?

Yesterday, my son Hillel, (who turns seven in a few days) and I were flying back from SLC to Philly. On our first flight from SLC to Chicago, the plane had three seats on each side of the aisle. I was in the aisle seat and my son was in the middle. Next to the window was a teenage boy with downs syndrome (he also stuttered really badly).

I could tell Hillel was nervous at first (I think b/c the boy "looked" different). Hillel took out his DS and the boy said, “I have one too” and started playing Mario Cart on his DS3D. My son handed me his DS and started watching the boy play and commenting on the game. When the boy “died,” Hillel said “Can I play?” The boy gave him the DS; Hillel and the boy shared the game back and forth several times. As they played the game, they yelled at the game, talked about their respective trips, and shared info about each other.

Because of the boy's stutter and the plane noise, he was difficult to understand. When he didn't understand, Hillel would ask him to repeat what he said or he'd turn to me for translation. Once he understood the boy, they went right back to their conversation.

As we exited the plane, Hillel said to the boy, "It was nice to meet you Chris."

I felt that the situation could have been awkward or Hillel could have just ignored the boy, but his actions made me proud.

Plus he's a pretty rad dude; Hillel at the tram:

and at the airport:

[OSECS]

Have you ever been so proud of your kid you got teary eyed and felt compelled to share it with a bunch of (mostly) complete strangers?

Yesterday, my son Hillel, (who turns seven in a few days) and I were flying back from SLC to Philly. On our first flight from SLC to Chicago, the plane had three seats on each side of the aisle. I was in the aisle seat and my son was in the middle. Next to the window was a teenage boy with downs syndrome (he also stuttered really badly).

I could tell Hillel was nervous at first (I think b/c the boy "looked" different). Hillel took out his DS and the boy said, “I have one too” and started playing Mario Cart on his DS3D. My son handed me his DS and started watching the boy play and commenting on the game. When the boy “died,” Hillel said “Can I play?” The boy gave him the DS; Hillel and the boy shared the game back and forth several times. As they played the game, they yelled at the game, talked about their respective trips, and shared info about each other.

Because of the boy's stutter and the plane noise, he was difficult to understand. When he didn't understand, Hillel would ask him to repeat what he said or he'd turn to me for translation. Once he understood the boy, they went right back to their conversation.

As we exited the plane, Hillel said to the boy, "It was nice to meet you Chris."

I felt that the situation could have been awkward or Hillel could have just ignored the boy, but his actions made me proud.

Plus he's a pretty rad dude; Hillel at the tram:

and at the airport:

Quality moments in life don't come along like that every day, Big props for your son.

[Tippster]

Good work, Dad (and Mom!)

[Art Shirk]

Good kid, probably because of a good dad. Hope my kid acts similarly later in life.

[MotherFucker]

He sees his parents act politely torwards others that are different so he does the same.

Keep up the great parenting.

[LT]

People are people.....props to your son for knowing it all along.

[Skidog]

good stuff..I think kids, when young, look past all that. Its as they get older, get into "cliques" with kids that are not soo accepting and then the real shit hits the fan.
Exposure to "people with disabilities" at an early age helps.

Apparently you're doing a good job as a dad...keep it up.

[mcsquared]

Good job Dad, and kid.
I hope you told him what you told us.

[GiBo]

Have you ever been so proud of your kid you got teary eyed and felt compelled to share it with a bunch of (mostly) complete strangers?

Yes I have.

And I'm proud of your kid too. This is a tough world and only getting tougher. We need more kids like yours.

Hillel

[VTskibum]

Small world... I was on your plane flight back. Glad you guys enjoyed your trip and nice job to your boy. You could tell he had a good time. You were in the sling right?

[smartyiak]

Small world... I was on your plane flight back. Glad you guys enjoyed your trip and nice job to your boy. You could tell he had a good time. You were in the sling right?

Yep...that was me. I had a great time too (that was some fabulous Spring skiing). I didn't get hurt till Sunday afternoon (and Monday morning didn't look so great), so I only missed about an hour of skiing.

[::: :::]

sounds like you're doing a good job or are just lucky
either way, good on ya!



(sigh) i remember getting dressed in sunday best to fly...looks like you're keeping the tradition

[Ver iz ze money LePowski?]

Iceman wears his pride on his jeans

[Dave Marshack]

I have no kids. but i do applaud the little guy that broke through a condom in college and almost gave me a heart attack, that fucker had a mission! thankfully the girl had it "taken care of"

[Hayduke]

The world and TGR is obviously changing for the better. When I was a kid we always used to make fun of the spastics.

[Hayduke]

Warning people. Don't leave your computer unattended when logged into this place.

Thanks dickhead.

[hutash]

The world and TGR is obviously changing for the better. When I was a kid we always used to make fun of the spastics.

Warning people. Don't leave your computer unattended when logged into this place.

Thanks dickhead.

Fuck you, I just blew diet coke out my nose.

As to the OP, sounds like a great kid, I'd buy him a beer.

It is amazing what happens if you let kids be kids.

[stuckathuntermtn]

Congrats on your awesome kid.

I like to tell people about my dog. They really don't care, but I tell them anyway. He's my furkid.

[MMP]

Hillel FTW.

well parented kids treat others with kindness.

[smartyiak]

Must be all that time he spends with the good folks in the Black Line Pub!

[gatorboy]

Kids are great from birth until.....we fuck em up.

OP, keep not fucking em up.

[SkiED]

Hillel? What in the hell kind of name is that?

[TomCrac]

Great kid, great story.

[Alaskan Rover]

Hillel? What in the hell kind of name is that?

What business is it of yours, Douche?

To the O.P.: I agree with the what someone here said...it's amazing what can happen when we let kids be kids.

--

[rideit]

Mazeltov.