According to the Nationwide Children’s. “The term Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) refers to a complex neurodevelopmental condition. Its presentation varies for each individual, but primarily, it affects communication and social interactions between a child and their caregivers, peers, and/or teachers. It also impacts the way the child thinks and behaves.”
Simply put, they see and react to almost everything a little differently.
On little Connor Crites’ very first day at Minneha Elementary School, something unbelievable happened.
The young boy, who has autism, found the hustle and bustle of the initial school day overwhelming. Connor, feeling distressed, curled up in a corner, shedding tears instead of mingling with his classmates.
However, the day took an unexpectedly heartwarming turn, and Connor entered the school with confidence, all thanks to a newfound friend.
This friend was no other than Christian Moore, a second-grade classmate with a heart of gold.
Christian noticed Connor’s struggle, so he approached the teary-eyed youngster and offered him comfort. With his compassionate gesture, Christian took Connor’s hand and led the way into the school.
Right there and then, the bond between them formed instantly and turned them into the best of buddies.
Christian’s mom, Courtney, witnessed this touching scene and said, “I saw him on the ground with Connor as Connor was crying in the corner and he was consoling him. He grabs his hand and walks him to the front door. We waited until the bell rang and he walked him inside of the school. The rest is history. They have an inseparable bond.”
In places crowded with a lot of people like school, individuals with ASD like Connor often feel stressed.
This likely explains why Connor sought solace in a corner when he caught himself overwhelmed by the chaotic surroundings.
Connor’s mom, April Crites, shared her concerns and shared, “I fear every day that someone is going to laugh at him because he doesn’t speak correctly, or laugh at him because he doesn’t sit still or because he jumps up and down and flaps his hands.”
Courtney was deeply moved by her son’s act of kindness and captured the heartwarming encounter in a photograph. Touched by the gesture, she shared the picture on Facebook with high hopes of inspiring others, especially kids.
Her caption reflected her pride, “I’m so proud of my son, he saw a kid balled up into a corner crying, so he went to console him, grabbed his hand, and walked him inside the school! It is an honor to raise such a loving, compassionate child! He’s a kid with a big heart, the first day of school started off right.”
The proud mom continued by emphasizing how Connor expressed his gratitude, stating, “He was kind to me. It was the 1st day of school, and I started crying then he helped me and I was happy.”
This heartwarming incident is a perfect lesson that extends beyond Connor and Christian. Both mothers, along with many others, draw inspiration from the fact that Christian saw no difference in Connor.
It serves as a beautiful lesson for everyone. In the words of April, “It doesn’t matter color, it doesn’t matter gender, it doesn’t matter disability, and it doesn’t matter anything, just be kind, open your heart… it’s what we need in this world.”
The story of these two young friends is a perfect example of kindness, teaching us that compassion knows no boundaries.
Learn more about this inspiring story by watching the video below.
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