“I didn’t even realize how much my daughter was struggling… until I saw this picture.
My youngest was recently diagnosed with Autism. Most days, she functions just like any other kid. But some days… the world feels a little too big for her.
Yesterday, the Wheatland Fire Authority visited her preschool. For most kids, that’s exciting — trucks, firefighters, new faces. But for her, new people in her space asking her to try this and do that can be overwhelming.
That’s when this firefighter noticed. Instead of pushing, instead of brushing her off… he just let her curl up on his lap. He let her breathe. He let her feel safe. And he stayed with her for as long as she needed.
Later I found out he has an autistic family member himself — which is probably why he knew exactly how to respond with compassion instead of judgment.
As a parent navigating a diagnosis like this, you wonder every single day: Will the world meet her with kindness? Or with criticism?
Yesterday, it was kindness. Yesterday, it was compassion. Yesterday, it was hope.”
*** Brittany Templeton ***