A Washington mom has described how her son got a big surprise while attending a school friend’s birthday party.
October 18 is a special date for Kendra Leon, her 6-year-old son Tyler and all the rest of their family. It’s Tyler’s birthday and traditionally a day of celebration in the Leon household.
This year was a little different though. “Tyler is in kindergarten and was invited to a birthday party by a girl in his class,” Leon told Newsweek. Despite the party falling on his birthday, Tyler was desperate to go. “He just met her this year, so the friendship is still really new,” Leon said.
Leon happily confirmed Tyler’s attendance but thought it was worth mentioning, in passing, that the date of the party held special significance for her son. “When I RSVPed, I casually mentioned to the mom that it happened to fall on his actual birthday and he was excited to go,” she said.
What happened next took her and Tyler completely by surprise. It’s important for children to celebrate their birthday. A 2018 study published in the journal Actua medica Lituanica saw just over 300 students surveyed on their birthday made them feel.
They found respondents tended to feel better and more loved on their birthday.
Tyler had celebrated his birthday at home with his family already by the time he headed to his classmates’ party. But then something wonderful happened. Something his mom felt compelled to share on social media in a post shared to Threads under the handle brooklynrosebeads.
“The day of the party, the parents showed up with a present for my son!” she wrote. “It gets sweeter. Then they whip out an extra candle for the cake and everyone sang happy birthday to him!!!”
Leon shared pictures of Tyler being surprised with his own special cake at his friend’s birthday and another of him, on the way home from the party, clutching the brand new Hot Wheels toy car set he was given by the parents.
Leon said the gesture helped Tyler feel “so special” on his birthday. “My son is very shy, being only six but he was incredibly happy to be thought of and to receive an unexpected gift,” she said.
Leon was so blown away by what the family did for her son that day, she felt compelled to share the story on social media. “I wanted to post it because I truly feel like that was such a beautiful gesture that I won’t ever forget and I will remind my kids about it for years to come,” she said.
Writing on Threads, Leon said: “We need more people like this in the world,” adding “we don’t even know these parents.” The post has already been liked over 33,000 times. “If I can inspire one more person then posting it was worth it,” she said. “I know I am going to try to be more thoughtful now because of this gesture!”
