The Boy and His Mom Were Separated, But He Stepped Up
This airport moment exemplifying healthy masculinity restored my faith in humanity. Read more!
As I rushed through Atlanta’s airport, my mind was on reaching my gate. If you’ve never flown through Atlanta, it’s an airport like no other—big enough to have its own train system. This train connects all terminals, and for anyone in a rush, it’s a lifesaver.
I hopped onto the train, joining the crowd of travelers, all of us focused on our destinations. As I stood there, waiting for the doors to close, something caught my eye at the other end of the train car—a woman, racing to make it in. A man tried to hold the door for her, but it was too late. The doors shut, and the train moved on.
That’s when I heard it—a small, frightened cry. A little boy stood alone, his eyes tearing up and his face overwhelmed with fear. The adults around him exchanged concerned looks, the same thought crossing all our minds: “Is that woman his mom?”
It didn’t take long to realize the truth. The woman who was left behind was his mother. The boy was alone on the train. You could feel the panic ripple through the car, but it was gently cut by a man standing next to the boy, who leaned over and spoke to him. He reassured the boy he could get off at the next stop, and his mom would be there.
When the train stopped, the man stepped out with the boy, guiding him to the side. They waited together, the man keeping watch until the next train arrived for the boy and his mother to be united.
In the hustle and bustle of airport traffic, this simple act of kindness stood out like a beacon. This man, a stranger to the boy and his mother, put aside his own plans to stay with the child, to be a calm presence in a moment of fear.
As I watched, I couldn’t help but think, “He must be a father.” But then I thought, even if he wasn’t, he did what I believe any decent person should do. He stepped up when someone needed help.
I wondered about the mother too. She must have been terrified, stranded in the busiest airport in the world, knowing her child was alone. In that moment, she had no choice but to rely on the kindness of strangers, to trust that someone would look after her boy.
I share this story because it highlights the kind of men I want to see more of in the world. I didn’t know this man, but I like to think there are millions like him—men who will step up to help a child, or anyone, when needed.
It’s true, we often feel a natural instinct to protect children, especially when they are so young and vulnerable. But this type of kindness, this selflessness, shouldn’t stop there. It should extend to everyone, in every situation. That’s the world I want to live in—a world where men protect the vulnerable and serve as positive role models, whether they have children or not.
This, to me, is healthy masculinity. It’s the kind of masculinity that values the well-being of others, that sees strength in compassion. It’s the kind that reassures a mother, separated from her child, that there are good people out there who will step up in her place until she can be reunited with her son.
That’s the kind of masculinity I want to uplift. And that’s the kind of world I hope we can build together.
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