A kid’s first day of school can be just as traumatic for the parent as it is for the child. For a child, the idea of going to school for the first time can be a terrifying experience, and for a parent, seeing their child so scared can, in turn, be heartbreaking.
However, one Wisconsin bus driver is being praised for her compassionate attitude with one jittery child.
The youngster was headed for his first day of pre-kindergarten.
Pre-kindergarten, or 4K, is an optional school year for children who are four years old on or before September 1st, and is designed to get kids ready for the kindergarten experience.
Due to the kids being so young, it can be a particularly scary experience.
Young Axel was getting on the bus when he became a little overwhelmed.
Axel’s mother Amy Johnson was hoping to mark the special day with a photograph, but ended up capturing a more touching photo than she could have anticipated.
As Axel got on the bus he began to cry so the bus driver held his hand to help calm him down.
Ms Johnson managed to snap a picture of the touching scene just before the bus departed.
The photo was then shared on Facebook by the Augusta Police Department.
The police department wrote:
“In our 2nd ‘official’ year in the school, we really need to shout out our school staff. This is one of our wonderful bus drivers, Miss Lane, holding the hand of a scared little one on his first day of school!”
“The compassion we see every day in our teachers, bus drivers, custodians, administration, food service staff, and paraprofessionals is truly admirable.”
That’s absolutely right. I think we can all remember at least one time an adult in school was there for us.
Axel’s mum explained that he was initially fine, but when she tried to leave, he wouldn’t let her go.
Speaking to CNN , Ms Johnson said, “He was super excited to go, but when the bus came around corner he was really quiet.”
“The bus opened the door and I looked at him and he started crying. I told him, ‘Buddy, you got this and will have so much fun.'”
Axel kept crying though, until the bus driver offered him her hand to take.
The touching photo has since received hundreds of shares and comments online.
Fellow parents were quick to praise the bus drive, Isabel Lane (pictured above), for the compassion she showed with young Axel.
She says that she was only acting on instinct.
Speaking to CNN , Lane said, “I stuck my hand behind the seat as maybe something else to grab onto and he grabbed my hand. I could see that he needed to be comforted and that was the best I could do at the time.”
Lane went on to explain how invested she gets in making sure the kids are okay.
She said, “You get invested in cheering them on. A big win for me is every morning I tell the kids as they get off to make it a good day and when I have a kid who I know doesn’t like to go to school say, ‘Yeah, I’ll try.'”
Such small things can make a big difference for a kid.
“It makes me feel good because they heard me and I hope it makes them feel like they can be heard.”
The comments on the heartwarming photo continue to be awash with positivity.
Other comments included:
“Isabel Lane always knows exactly what students need when they need it. I’m so proud that this graduate chose to come back and work with our students.”
It is truly uplifting to see someone so committed to making the lives of our children that little bit better.
“Poor buddy, I hope it gets easier and easier every day for him, but am so glad he has a trusted adult whenever he needs.”
This story even managed to warm a small corner of my whiskey drowned, cynical heart, so well done Ms Lane, well done indeed.
Hopefully this story will inspire other bus drivers to go that little extra mile and make sure that their kids are doing as well as they possibly can.
h/t: Yahoo Lifestyle
