Beth Bornstein Dunnington, who took to Facebook to share the incident, wrote, "It occurred to me that a circle of women, with a mission, can save the world."
While traveling on a flight, something a lot of people dread is having a cranky child onboard with them. Being confined in a plane with a screaming child does not sound at all appealing and will probably get a lot of people to make snarky remarks. But the thought of what the parents or guardians of the wailing child must be going through seldom crosses the mind of the people who are quick to get annoyed with the situation. Fortunately, some people are more in touch with their basic empathy, and lending a hand to a struggling adult trying to handle an agitated toddler could go a long way.
A child was, similarly, having a hard time just before a plane boarding. His mother was unable to calm him down and what followed was a touching display of empathy by strangers who came to the rescue of the struggling mother. Among the women was Beth Bornstein Dunnington, who took to Facebook to share the incident.
She wrote: 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.
Dunnington continued: 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.
And just like that, a group of women came together to help the clearly distressed mother and child out. One of the women helped the mother get her kid's sippy cup out of her bag and gave it to him. Describing it again as a gorgeous moment which was not at all premeditated and just spontaneously happened. Dunnington went on to say: 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.
Dunnington then concluded with the strong statement: It occurred to me that a circle of women, with a mission, can save the world. I will never forget that moment. The heart-warming incident was widely shared and went viral. It was shared over 19k times and has been liked more than 65k times. Many of the people who read this story were touched by how the women came to help a complete stranger. Rudi Dundas commented on the post by saying: What a fabulous story... And an affirmation in the inner goodness of human beings... We alone have the ability to see into another’s heart and feel compassion.
Rebecca Smolen commented: Come on!!!!! Amazing!!!! Inspirational!!!! We can certainly save this world!! I’ve been saying this very sentiment for a very long time! (2ish years) I’m losing it here. This is exactly what we need more of every day. Gentle support and community for the good!!! Another Facebook user, Nikki Rene Rodriguez wrote: Are you kidding me!! That is so beautiful and not surprising at all that women would make this gesture without giving it a second thought! Women are the most thoughtful, amazing, people on this planet. Sadly under-appreciated too.
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