Shanell Mouland wasn’t expecting much when an older businessman sat next to her daughter on a flight back from Disney, but it turns out he knew just what to do.
Shanell Mouland and her husband Al have a 3-year-old daughter named Kate who has autism. They blog about their experiences raising her over at goteamkate.com and recently they published an open letter that went massively viral.
The Moulands had just wrapped up a family vacation to Disney World, a place Shanell described as overwhelming for anyone, but especially so for a child with autism. On the flight back, there was an open seat next to Kate.
"I sat and watched people come on the plane and made quick judgments about who might sit beside her," Shanell told BuzzFeed. "Then I saw a businessman and I thought, No, that's not who I want to sit down."
The moment you sat down, Kate started to rub your arm. Your jacket was soft and she liked the feel of it. You smiled at her and she said: "Hi, Daddy, that's my mom." Then she had you.
You could have shifted uncomfortably in your seat. You could have ignored her. You could have given me that 'smile' that I despise because it means; 'manage your child please.' You did none of that. You engaged Kate in conversation and you asked her questions about her turtles. She could never really answer your questions but she was so enamored by you that she keep eye contact and joint attention on the items you were asking her about. I watched and smiled. I made a few polite offers to distract her, but you would have none of it.
Kate: (Upon noticing you had an IPad) Is dis Daddy's puduter?
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