Kindness of Trader Joe's checker brings mom of Bay Area autistic boy to tears

[Liberal_in_LA]

I got this today from a woman named Alisen Booth. She lives in the Bay Area, and her son has autism.




A Trader Joe's checker helps Hank scan groceries

Alisen was sharing a story about what happened to her in the supermarket today. She says no one has EVER been that kind to her family before. Here's what she wrote:

I was at Trader Joe's today. Hank was not behaving very well.

I was extremely embarrassed. The checker saw that. She let Hank scan and bag all of the items.

She gave him a bunch of stickers too. More importantly, she gave him her time and saw past his Autism. When I got to my truck, I cried.

No one has EVER done something so kind and gracious for our family before out in public.

She changed our entire day and mood around for the better today. I am forever grateful.

Thank you beyond words.

http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/article/Kindness-of-Trader-Joe-s-checker-brings-mom-of-6839483.php

[KamaAina]

1. This is progress, I suppose

In the past, many Autistic and other developmentally disabled people were steered into bagging groceries for a living.

[Skittles]

15. that is a mistake

I've worked with autistic / asperger folk in the IT world and they can do a fine job

[KamaAina]

17. Mahalo (thank you)!

We have many talents besides just IT. Yours truly, for instance, does political advocacy and organizes other people with disabilities. Still, I must be the only member of the Yale College Class of 1985 who is not pulling down 40 grand a year.

[mgmaggiemg]

2. wow great....;)

kindness pass it on people!

[Mika]

3. It costs nothing to be kind except a little of your time and compassion.

"Be fearless and pure; never waver in your determination or your dedication to the spiritual life. Give freely. Be self-controlled, sincere, truthful, loving, and full of the desire to serve ... Learn to be detached and to take joy in renunciation. Do not get angry or harm any living creature, but be compassionate and gentle; show good will to all. Cultivate vigor, patience, will, purity; avoid malice and pride. Then, you will achieve your destiny."
- Bhagavad Gita

[joeybee12]

4. Great story..knr

[jillan]

5. As the mom of a special needs daughter, I wish more people would follow this lead.

When my daughter was little, a woman walked up to us in the grocery store and told me how beautiful my daughter was.... I just said thank you politely because she does look "different." She must've read my expression because she continued to tell me that her skin was like porcelain, her dark hair looked so soft & glossy and she had an adorable smile. Her kindness meant more than words can express. I literally melted inside.
I have never forgotten that moment.

So often as parents we are given weird looks, hear other parents tell their children not to stare, feel the stigma when out in the world. Being a special parent is not easy. All it takes is a moment of kindness from a stranger to make our lives that much better, not to mention the ego boost our kids get. They know they are treated differently.

Thanks for posting this!!

[Nightjock]

6. I wish I could rec this 1,000 times

I am the father of of a beautiful 12 year old boy on the autism scale.

[EllieBC]

7. As a mother of a 6 year old child on the spectrum,

I can tell you these moments are the ones that make us able to breathe again.

When my daughter is melting down for no reason, sometimes I want to crawl into a hole. She's cognitively on time to advanced but socially and emotionally she's very very delayed. More like a 3 year old on those areas.

So a nod or kind smile from a clerk or anyone, the kind of nod or smile that says, "I get it. Your kid isn't "a brat". Something else is going on for her and causing this heightened response.", makes me feel like maybe the ground isn't and shouldn't swallow me up.

[passiveporcupine]

8. We need more stories like this here

Especially now!

[SHRED]

9. Trader Joe's employees are always nice

I like the atmosphere there.

[Raster]

10. I worked for Trader Joes (Seattle and Federal Way) for 1.5 years, in between financial...

...industry jobs. I was one of the oldest employees of both stores, but thoroughly enjoyed my time working with "the kids," and was treated just like one of the younger teammates. Awesome people, every last one.

Trader Joes treats their people well, both full-time AND part-time, and it shows in their attitudes.

I would not have expected anything less from the Team.

Once a Team member, ALWAYS a Team Member.

[spanone]

11. k&R...

[panader0]

12. Be kind to others

It isn't difficult.
I try.

[MerryBlooms]

13. Beaut.

[Skittles]

14. I am always kind and gracious towards autistic people

I have a severely autistic younger brother

what you do is, you stop expecting them to join your world, and join theirs......yes indeed

[CommonSenseDemocrat]

16. And some people here think these people don't deserve a living wage

(I'm referring to a hidden post here on a different thread)