Be The Kind Kid

It’s powerful and simply stated right?

I’d like to share my experience from Friday’s field trip because it was one I will never forget. One that truly showed me how every child can #bethekindkid in different ways.

Before I go into my story I’d like to share a little background on how #bethekindkid started and how those famous shirts came about!

In our school district, the #bethekindkid mission originated from a group of students in second grade wanting to start an after school “making” club. This “club” makes #bethkindkid shirts and they donate profits to causes of their choice. Since then, it has grown to a group of over 50 students grades K-6. Many schools and other organizations started taking notice and wanted to join in on #bethekindkid and purchased shirts.

They started selling them online and have now sold over 18,000 shirts! And now every Wednesday it’s officially #wearitwednesday and everyone, including staff, wears their #bethekindkid shirts!

Pretty amazing right!?

Want to hear about something even more amazing!?

Watching and experiencing the kindness of these children with your own eyes!

We went to Phipps Conservatory on Friday for a field trip. Ethan was really enjoying himself looking at all the beautiful flowers and calming waterfalls.

I just love to watch him look at things and experience new surroundings. …

His eyes….

his smiles….

the way his face lights up when he sees something really interesting..

Gosh, I wish I could see the world through his eyes for just one day. …

SO much beauty ….

We continued throughout the field trip and he participated with his peers in an interactive bee show.

He loved it!!

I mean he got to get out of his seat, jump up and down flapping his hands like “wings” on a bee and go “buzzzzz” “buzzzzz” “buzzzz”

He was happy as could be!

After the “bee show” we took a drive to a nearby park for all of the students to eat lunch together and play on their large playground.

Ethan was so excited to be having a “picnic” and then playing with his friends at the huge park!

During our time at the park I got to witness multiple … ok more than that …

I got to witness MANY interactions between Ethan and his peers.

Now this is not something new for me but Friday was different. I was extremely aware of everything going on around us because we were in a public setting … we weren’t at school or on a small playground with 2 or 3 friends..

This was probably 80 plus kids with teachers, paraprofessionals and other staff… so it was crowded busy!!

But in the craziness of it all, I got to see first hand how these kids truly practice being the kind kid.

At one point, Ethan was trying to climb up a slide and he was really struggling at the top…

I let him try multiple times before he got too frustrated then I helped give him a little boost to get him to the top. Once he reached the top there were 2 classmates standing up there cheering for him saying “good job Ethan!” And then gave him big high fives!!

Insert teary eyes here… how sweet right?

He continues to play and I follow close by with his amazing aide, Ashley. ( or as Bubba likes to call her “H” )

The next piece of equipment Ethan climbed on he wasn’t able to get down. He was nervous and too afraid to jump down by himself because it was a little too high for him.

I asked him if he wanted help and he said yes. As I walked over, the other children were standing there saying “it’s ok bubba” and “you got this!” I smiled and said thank you to them and I helped him down.

As soon as I placed Ethan down, this sweet boy looked at Ethan and said “bubba that was so brave. I’m so proud of you”

I’m pretty sure my heart melted all over the ground! Literally, big tears filled my eyes as I was taken aback by how incredibly kind and sweet ALL of the kids were to Ethan that day…

And not just to Ethan, but ALL of their peers. I just happened to pay extra attention to these few moments that filled my heart with so much joy.

As we were getting ready to get in our car to go home, Braidan (Ethan’s twin brother) noticed Ethan’s shoe was untied. So he said “oh here buddy, let me help you” and bent down and tied his shoe laces.

I could not be more humbled and proud.

Friday brought me so much peace and happiness knowing that my children go to a school with a great group of peers.

I am so grateful for the teachers and other staff members within our district for not only teaching kindness but making it a priority within the classroom and the curriculum they use every single day.

And a big thank you to my fellow parents for teaching your children respect and raising them with kindness in their hearts!

I think it’s safe to say that we are all doing a great job at raising happy children who truly know how to #bethekindkid