Being a new parent can be tough. But there is nothing finer than getting to experience the joys of parenting: the pleasant smell of your infant, sweet coos of your newborn, and all of the laughs your little family gets to share together. It’s the little things. It really is.
I’m positive new parents, Dustin and Caren Moore, would agree. But the overwhelming scene they experienced in November 2019 on a flight to California as they were bringing home their eight-day-old adopted baby girl from Colorado was something that they’ll never forget. The strangers on the plane surprised the family with an impromptu baby shower!
Dustin recalls the act of kindness like it was yesterday.
“With clearance to return home to California, my wife carried our precious bundle, while I offered numerous apologies to passengers while maneuvering the aisle with 4 bags,” Dustin said in a February Twitter thread. “About mid-flight, our daughter awoke and politely informed us she wanted a new diaper.
“After inquiring about space for a table change, a thoughtful flight attendant named Jenny cleared a space in the back of the plane and gave us privacy.”
During the diaper change, both the flight attendant and another passenger were curious why the dad was flying with such a young baby.
“I gave them the shortened adoption story, to which they hastily offered congratulations, and shared a few more kind remarks,” he continued. “About 10 minutes later, another attendant (named Bobby) greeted us with a warm smile, and inquired about our daughter.”
The Moore family enjoyed the kind exchange of words, but at the same time, they weren’t trying to be in the limelight.
“We repeated the story with a few details, and he congratulated us before walking away. My wife and I exchanged curious looks, but thought nothing more about it.”
Then what happened next completely stunned Caren and Dustin. Over the intercom, Flight Attendant Bobby announced the Moores’ adoption. The passengers on the plane cheered and clapped in excitement for the couple.
“What all of those perfect strangers and attendants did not know was the emotionally tender state of two brand-new parents,” Dustin said. “Parents who—after 9 years of trying—had been blessed with their first child. Parents who felt scared, but determined in their new role.”
If that wasn’t already heartwarming enough for the Moores, Bobby passed out napkins and pens, so passengers could write their warmest wishes and words of advice for the first-time parents. From “Enjoy every moment. It goes by sooo very fast” to “Drink lots of wine,” the couple received over 60 napkins containing sweet (and humorous) pieces of guidance.
“The outpouring of love from that flight, brought on by the actions of two thoughtfully observant flight attendants… it exceeds my ability to describe what it meant to us. How much those wings and written notes uplifted two new parents determined to love their new daughter,” Dustin said.
According to Flight Attendants Jenny and Bobby, who are a married couple, another flight attendant crew did something similar as the two were flying home from their honeymoon. Inspired by the kind act, they decided to do the same to the Moores.
And the attendants certainly did the right thing. Not only were Dustin and Caren’s hearts filled with plenty of love that day, but it helped ease their new parent jitters.
Due to how special the moment was, the Moores decided to keep the signed napkins and put them in a special scrapbook.
What a sweet way to congratulate a family’s recent adoption! Check out a video version of the story below.
