A bus driver in New Jersey kept an eye on two students who approached another child with special needs. She was worried that the two students might gang up on the other child, ridicule them for being different, and make their day a living hell. However, bus driver Cindy Clausen noticed something else happening entirely – the two other students didn’t ridicule and harass the student with special needs. They offered their kindness to the disabled boy Jackson.
Clausen was so impressed with Jorge and Annaliese, the two students who reached out to Jackson, that she was compelled to write a note and send it home with the children so their parents could know just how great they were on the bus ride home.
“I am compelled to write to tell you how beautiful your children are, inside and out! This can only come from the home, your patience and guidance, the examples that you set and teach,” Clausen’s note read. “Every day, your children ask if they can sit with Jackson. Some days Jackson is a little sad getting on the bus, but as soon as he sees Annaliese and Jorge, he smiles. Jackson has difficulties walking, and it takes a bit for him to get to his seat.”
Clausen watched as Annalise encouraged Jackson to make his way to his seat, even though he was struggling to make it there. Even though the boy with special needs was struggling, Annalise was there to offer him support and encouragement as he navigated the world around him.
“When we arrived at school, Jorge took it upon himself to carry out his backpack!” she wrote. “I know you know how wonderful your children are, but I wanted you to know that it shows!”
Clausen’s note was eventually shared on social media and picked up by the Love What Matters Facebook group. Dozens of people shared their reactions to the heartwarming note and contributed their thoughts to the lively discussion.
“I love everything about this, that the children are kind and polite, and have parents who have taught them well, and that another human being saw their kindness and took the time to acknowledge it. This must have been a beautiful moment for the parents to read this note!” one reader commented on Love What Matters’ Facebook page.
“Parenting goals right here. I don’t need my son to be the smartest in his class, but I’d sure love it if he was one of the kindest,” another added.
Clausen’s contribution did not go overlooked.
“That was so heartwarming. It takes a special person to be a bus driver. Something I could never do. You have to have patients with iron, and most of our children today are loud and obnoxious and don’t have manners. But there are a few that are being raised right to show some respect. It’s sad these days that most parents have to work to make ends meet. Some don’t even get the time to spend much time with their children, which is sad, so there’s not much parental guidance. And we wonder what’s wrong with these kids today,” one reader commented.