It can be hard for any parent to let their child leave the nest, but for the parents of children with disabilities, letting them have independence can be much more nerve-racking.
Pat Long and Sandra Block, the parents of an autistic teen named Owen, were working on their son’s independence in the form of baby steps.
For kids with autism, daily social interactions can be difficult. They have a hard time recognizing sarcasm, rhetorical questions and other aspects of communication, which can ultimately lead to awkward encounters and social anxiety.
Last year, Pat was teaching Owen how to ask for a takeout menu from a restaurant.
The teen has to be comfortable with his food, so studying a restaurant menu beforehand helps him feel more confident in his choice. In an interview with WIVBTV, Sandra said: “We knew all day we were going to eat at Sun Restaurant. Owen likes to know exactly where he’s going to eat every night.”
To help Owen prepare for their upcoming meal, Pat took the teen to the restaurant, and together, the two practiced how to ask for a takeout menu.
“He said to him, ‘Owen just go and get the takeout menu and come right back,’ and they practiced it in the car,” Sandra said. “‘You’re going to ask? what are you going to ask? Takeout menu? Okay good.”
When Owen felt confident in his words, he entered the restaurant. After a few minutes, however, Pat grew nervous when his son didn’t return.
Pat tapped his foot in worried impatience, trying to will Owen out of the store.
After what seemed like ages of waiting, he decided to go in and see what was going on. The scene he saw before him immediately brought Sandra to tears.
“That is just so uncommonly kind, like how often can you imagine— I’m going to cry thinking about it,” Sandra said.
Turns out Owen had spoken to Aye Thein, the restaurant’s co-owner.
When Sandra shared what the woman had done for him, the story quickly went viral.
“It went viral, I’m sitting there refreshing it and telling Pat, my husband, ‘Hey we got like a thousand likes on this.” And then I’m like, ‘No make that 1,200. Make that 1,240.'” she recalled.
In the viral post, Sandra wrote:
“I [love] Sun Restaurant in Williamsville. If you end up there, thank them again, from me. For their kindness, and for treating my son like family.”
In a later interview, Aye said she had no idea Owen had autism; she was simply practicing ‘Mettā’, one of the ten pāramīs of the Theravāda school of Buddhism.
It means benevolence, loving-kindness, friendliness, amity, goodwill, and active interest in others.
“Mettā means loving and kindness to everybody,” Aye explained.
People were enamored with Thien’s kindhearted deed.
“Warms my heart. Good for the waitress and cook.”
“Sweet… the true meaning of human kindness…”
“That is so sweet! Hats off to Sun Restaurant in Williamsville.”
“I love what this restaurant staff did for your soon.”
But what did Aye Thein do to deserve such praise?
Watch the heartwarming video below!
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