Quite a bit has been made on sports news and networks about this video:
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http://www.nbc12.com/story/32936845/...who-has-autism
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (KMOV.com) – A wide receiver from Florida State University brightened the day of a boy with autism who was eating lunch alone.
Travis Rudolph was visiting a middle school Tuesday afternoon with some of his Seminole teammates when he noticed the boy sitting alone. He approached the boy’s table and joined him.
When the boy’s mother, Leah Paske, was sent a photo of the two eating lunch, she took to Facebook to express her gratitude.
Her entire post read:
“Several times lately I have tried to remember my time in middle school, did I like all my teachers, do I even remember them? Did I have many friends? Did I sit with anyone at lunch? Just how mean were kids really? I remember one kid on the bus called me "Tammy Fay Baker" bc I started awkwardly wearing eye liner in the sixth grade, I remember being tough and calling him a silly name back, but when he couldn't see me anymore I cried. I do remember middle school being scary, and hard. Now that I have a child starting middle school, I have feelings of anxiety for him, and they can be overwhelming if I let them. Sometimes I'm grateful for his autism. That may sound like a terrible thing to say, but in some ways I think, I hope, it shields him. He doesn't seem to notice when people stare at him when he flaps his hands. He doesn't seem to notice that he doesn't get invited to birthday parties anymore. And he doesn't seem to mind if he eats lunch alone. It's one of my daily questions for him. Was there a time today you felt sad? Who did you eat lunch with today? Sometimes the answer is a classmate, but most days it's nobody. Those are the days I feel sad for him, but he doesn't seem to mind. He is a super sweet child, who always has a smile and hug for everyone he meets. A friend of mine sent this beautiful picture to me today and when I saw it with the caption "Travis Rudolph is eating lunch with your son" I replied "who is that?" He said "FSU football player", then I had tears streaming down my face. Travis Rudolph, a wide receiver at Florida State, and several other FSU players visited my sons school today. I'm not sure what exactly made this incredibly kind man share a lunch table with my son, but I'm happy to say that it will not soon be forgotten. This is one day I didn't have to worry if my sweet boy ate lunch alone, because he sat across from someone who is a hero in many eyes. Travis Rudolph thank you so much, you made this momma exceedingly happy, and have made us fans for life! #travisrudolph #gonoles#FSU #autismmom #fansforlife
— with Florida State Seminoles Football.
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As many of you know, my 15 year old also has autism spectrum disorder, and many of the things shared by this mother are common to those of us who parent someone on the spectrum. My son doesn't have the physical manifestations like this young man has, with the twitching and flapping hands, but he does have outbursts of animal noises and such, so I know the pain of seeing an empty lunch table and a peer-less birthday party.
I would first like to commend Mr. Rudolph and say what an amazing thing he did for this young man. He and his family deserve every bit of praise for his actions, and his parents for raising him right. It's rare today to see such selflessness, especially from young college kids who play sports on a national stage.
But it got me thinking... I made a few comments on social media that I'd like to share so that they don't get lost in the shuffle, and so others can comment and share their experiences and thoughts on this story.
- I know he was excited. I just wonder if the other students learned a lesson from his kindness. And as one who has seen his son eat alone and have no one from class at birthday parties, I can say it made me smile reading the story, but the reality still is what it is. Tomorrow is a new day and I'm hoping that it doesn't return to normal for the little fella.
- I am a father of an autistic son too. My son was like this boy, without the hand motions... lonely birthday parties, sitting alone on the bus, never playing with the neighbor kids, etc. Stories like this are necessary for people to understand what we and our children go through EVERY DAY. Hopefully the kids at that school learned something valuable about people with autism and they learn some long term compassion. Hopefully, he wasn't by himself the next day...
Autism isn't some contagious disease. It's just something they have that is a challenge - which we all have some sort of challenge... Each of us should be encouraging our children to be cognizant of their surroundings and look for things like this to try to make them better. It took a national news story for people to applaud Travis Rudolph, but honestly, how many looked at the other side of the story with anything more than pity?
Anyway... thoughts??
************************************************** ***********************
http://www.nbc12.com/story/32936845/...who-has-autism
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (KMOV.com) – A wide receiver from Florida State University brightened the day of a boy with autism who was eating lunch alone.
Travis Rudolph was visiting a middle school Tuesday afternoon with some of his Seminole teammates when he noticed the boy sitting alone. He approached the boy’s table and joined him.
When the boy’s mother, Leah Paske, was sent a photo of the two eating lunch, she took to Facebook to express her gratitude.
Her entire post read:
“Several times lately I have tried to remember my time in middle school, did I like all my teachers, do I even remember them? Did I have many friends? Did I sit with anyone at lunch? Just how mean were kids really? I remember one kid on the bus called me "Tammy Fay Baker" bc I started awkwardly wearing eye liner in the sixth grade, I remember being tough and calling him a silly name back, but when he couldn't see me anymore I cried. I do remember middle school being scary, and hard. Now that I have a child starting middle school, I have feelings of anxiety for him, and they can be overwhelming if I let them. Sometimes I'm grateful for his autism. That may sound like a terrible thing to say, but in some ways I think, I hope, it shields him. He doesn't seem to notice when people stare at him when he flaps his hands. He doesn't seem to notice that he doesn't get invited to birthday parties anymore. And he doesn't seem to mind if he eats lunch alone. It's one of my daily questions for him. Was there a time today you felt sad? Who did you eat lunch with today? Sometimes the answer is a classmate, but most days it's nobody. Those are the days I feel sad for him, but he doesn't seem to mind. He is a super sweet child, who always has a smile and hug for everyone he meets. A friend of mine sent this beautiful picture to me today and when I saw it with the caption "Travis Rudolph is eating lunch with your son" I replied "who is that?" He said "FSU football player", then I had tears streaming down my face. Travis Rudolph, a wide receiver at Florida State, and several other FSU players visited my sons school today. I'm not sure what exactly made this incredibly kind man share a lunch table with my son, but I'm happy to say that it will not soon be forgotten. This is one day I didn't have to worry if my sweet boy ate lunch alone, because he sat across from someone who is a hero in many eyes. Travis Rudolph thank you so much, you made this momma exceedingly happy, and have made us fans for life! #travisrudolph #gonoles#FSU #autismmom #fansforlife
— with Florida State Seminoles Football.
************************************************** *************
As many of you know, my 15 year old also has autism spectrum disorder, and many of the things shared by this mother are common to those of us who parent someone on the spectrum. My son doesn't have the physical manifestations like this young man has, with the twitching and flapping hands, but he does have outbursts of animal noises and such, so I know the pain of seeing an empty lunch table and a peer-less birthday party.
I would first like to commend Mr. Rudolph and say what an amazing thing he did for this young man. He and his family deserve every bit of praise for his actions, and his parents for raising him right. It's rare today to see such selflessness, especially from young college kids who play sports on a national stage.
But it got me thinking... I made a few comments on social media that I'd like to share so that they don't get lost in the shuffle, and so others can comment and share their experiences and thoughts on this story.
- I know he was excited. I just wonder if the other students learned a lesson from his kindness. And as one who has seen his son eat alone and have no one from class at birthday parties, I can say it made me smile reading the story, but the reality still is what it is. Tomorrow is a new day and I'm hoping that it doesn't return to normal for the little fella.
- I am a father of an autistic son too. My son was like this boy, without the hand motions... lonely birthday parties, sitting alone on the bus, never playing with the neighbor kids, etc. Stories like this are necessary for people to understand what we and our children go through EVERY DAY. Hopefully the kids at that school learned something valuable about people with autism and they learn some long term compassion. Hopefully, he wasn't by himself the next day...
Autism isn't some contagious disease. It's just something they have that is a challenge - which we all have some sort of challenge... Each of us should be encouraging our children to be cognizant of their surroundings and look for things like this to try to make them better. It took a national news story for people to applaud Travis Rudolph, but honestly, how many looked at the other side of the story with anything more than pity?
Anyway... thoughts??
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