Traveling with young children can be difficult for any parent, as their fellow travelers aren’t so kind to kids when they start getting rowdy. That’s why this mother was stunned by the way this stranger reacted when he sat next to her son on a recent flight!

“People can be unkind and impatient, especially with small, overtired children,” the mother wrote in a letter to the stranger that she posted on social media.

The mother, who is going by the name “Anxious Mother” online, recently boarded Westjet Flight #1221 from Fort Lauderdale at 9:30 pm with her toddler son. She was immediately anxious about how whoever was seated next to her little boy would react. This was only her son’s second flight ever, and since it was so late, she was worried he might get fussy.

“Although my son is generally well behaved and quiet, I was anxious and concerned about how these first departure and arrival flights would go for him,” she wrote.

Going on to address the stranger who sat next to her son, Anxious Mother thanked him for offering her son gum and candy at takeoff, picking up his blanket whenever he dropped it, and for allowing him to put his legs in his lap.

“Thank you for making our flight experience a lesson in compassion and empathy for others. That little boy will grow into a man one day (hopefully like you) and he will get a lot more out of your simple actions than you realize,” Anxious Mother wrote.

After her letter went viral, the stranger was identified as Ali Hyseni, and he was touched by it.

“It was such a pleasure to meet such a loving family,” he replied. “Although he doesn’t show in this picture, the young boy’s grandfather should be the one receiving all this recognition. His patience and kindness towards his grandson were heartwarming … We should all strive to be like this man.”

Here’s the full letter that Anxious Mother wrote to Ali:

“We flew Westjet Flight #1221 from Fort Lauderdale at 9:30pm (arriving in Toronto past midnight yesterday) with a toddler whose only flight experience was the week prior.

The moment I saw you (a big, macho looking guy in probably your late twenties), I was worried that you wouldn’t take kindly to and would be offput by sitting beside a small child. I was completely wrong, and for that I am so grateful.

The seatbelt sign remained on for quite a good portion of our flight for turbulence, which meant instead of sitting and being comforted on mine or grandpa’s lap, he had to be belted in beside you instead.

I didn’t get your name, but thank you so much for grabbing his blanket the numerous times he dropped it, half asleep. Thank you for making sure to point your cabin light away from him when he finally did fall asleep. Thank you for being kind and engaging him even though you weren’t obligated to do so. Thank you for offering him (and us) candy and gum for his ears. Thank you for letting him rest his little tired legs and feet on you. And thank you for offering to get down all of our overhead luggage so he wouldn’t be disturbed.

Although my son is generally well behaved and quiet, I was anxious and concerned about how these first departure and arrival flights would go for him. People can be unkind and impatient, especially with small, overtired children.

Thank you for making our flight experience a lesson in compassion and empathy for others. That little boy will grow into a man one day (hopefully like you) and he will get a lot more out of your simple actions than you realize. You will make a wonderful father some day if you so choose.”

Love,
An Anxious Mother

This serves as a reminder of just how important it is to be kind to other people! SHARE this story so your friends and family can see this as well!