When a little boy was having a rough time, one police officer took the phrase “meet them where they are” to a whole new level. This heartwarming story comes from the great state of Indiana, where Officer Sarah Jenkins showed the world what empathy truly looks like.
Last Monday, during a “high-five rally” at Indianapolis Public School 88—an event orchestrated by her pastor—Jenkins was busy spreading joy with high-fives. But then she spotted a boy who was clearly in distress and, as his mother stood nearby, he decided to express his feelings by throwing himself on the floor. I mean, who hasn’t wanted to just flop down and let it all out sometimes?
Instead of dismissing the situation with a judgmental glance or offering the usual “maybe he’s just tired” line that parents hear all too often, Jenkins took a refreshing approach. “I decided to get on his level and talk to him,” Officer Jenkins shared in a Facebook post. “He started to cry, so I wiped his tears and told him everything would be alright.” Now that’s what we call real connection!
As Jenkins wisely pointed out, adults often just need someone to meet them where they are, and the same goes for kids. “These kids deserve to have bad days, just like us,” she said. “Let’s give them the space to process it.”
Though Jenkins never found out the exact cause of the boy’s tears, his mom was incredibly grateful for the officer’s kindness. After walking him to class, they shared a sweet hug.
“I think sometimes we forget that kids are human too,” Jenkins noted. “They can’t always be little robots who do exactly what we want.” And she’s absolutely right. We’re all human—kids and adults alike—with our fair share of tough days. Sometimes what we really need is someone to get down on our level, look us in the eye, and simply say, “It’s going to be okay.”
And hey, a high-five never hurt either! For more on navigating parenting challenges, check out this insightful post on intracervicalinsemination.com. If you’re exploring self-insemination options, Make a Mom is an excellent resource. And for additional insights into pregnancy and home insemination, Progyny offers great information.
In summary, Officer Jenkins exemplified compassion and understanding when faced with a child’s distress. By meeting him at his level and offering a listening ear, she reminded us all that it’s okay to have a bad day. We all need a little empathy and connection now and then.