As parents, all we want is to support our children, help them to feel safe, loved, and protected as often as we can. When our children are “different” in some way, we often worry how other people will treat them, and it is the job of a parent to instill a sense of confidence and inclusiveness within our kids, to know that they always have someone who understands and believes in them.
When a photo of a family hanging around the house all wearing helmets went viral, it seemed like a silly joke. But the story behind it is actually much more serious, and it will truly warm your heart.
Four month old Jonah was diagnosed with plagiocephaly, a condition that causes very flat areas on a baby’s head. Because of his condition, the young child would have to wear a helmet to help correct the shape of his head. Jonah would need to wear the helmet for about three to six months.
That’s when Jonah’s older sister Camila did something amazing. The three-year-old girl started wearing her bike helmet around the house.
"Ever since he got his helmet on Wednesday it has made her want to have her helmet, too." Jonah’s mom Shayna said.
Pretty soon, the entire family started standing in solidarity with Jonah, and they all were wearing bike helmets around the house.
"She will show her brother her helmet and tell him she has one too. He is 4 months old so he doesn't notice at all, but it is fun to see her interacting with him like that." Shayna said.
While Shayna admits that the helmets in the house trend began as “Camila’s idea”, she was easily able to get her family members to participate too. "She likes to ask daddy to wear his helmet too and he usually obliges." Shayna said.
A few photos of Jonah’s dad and sister rocking their helmets went viral, and people were extremely moved by the sweet gesture.
You can clearly see little Jonah in the photos wearing his own plagiocephaly helmet, while Camila and dad Gary have their more colorful bike helmets on at the dinner table.
Gary’s cousin also tweeted the adorable photos, and people couldn’t help but fall in love with the sweet family. His post garnered over 110,000 liked and was re-tweeted over 27,000 times.
"We are glad that people find it so sweet and I love that Camila can be exposed to something valuable like inclusion for those who are 'different,' but the truth is we were just being our normal selves on a normal Saturday morning at home and just give in to the requests of our 3-year-old who asks us to wear helmets.” Shayna said.
What do you think of the photos?
