The power of Facebook has once again been proven.
This time, it’s made a little boy’s day by getting him invited to a party that he was allegedly excluded from because of his Down Syndrome.
When Canadian mum Jennifer Kiss-Engele’s son Sawyer was not invited to a classmate’s birthday party – and appeared to be the only one of 22 students who was excluded – Ms Kiss-Engele took to Facebook to pen an open-letter to the child’s parent.
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In the letter, posted on Thursday, she wrote, “I know it’s not because he’s mean, you couldn’t meet a happier child.”
“I know it’s not because your child and him don’t get along, he’s brought up your child’s name on several occasions.
“The only reason why you decided it was OK to not invite my son to your child’s birthday party is because he has Down Syndrome.”
The mum-of-three goes on to say that she isn’t mad at the parent, but wants to educate them on what it means to have Down Syndrome.
The post was viewed more than 6000 times and shared by almost 3000 Facebook users. Of the 930 comments, the majority were supportive of Ms Kiss-Engele and Sawyer.
It would seem the parent of the unnamed child was one of the many people who saw this and got the message. Loud and clear. Because Ms Kiss-Engele wrote yesterday that the story has a "happy ending".
"The parent read my letter, spoke to their child about Sawyer, and the child created a special birthday invite for Sawyer."
"Of course he's been beaming ever since and can't stop talking about it."
Ms Kiss-Engele then shares that she is really proud the letter has been viewed by so many people because its not just her son that is affected by exclusions.
"There are so many kids with special needs (and without of course) that just don't make the cut."
"I think as parents we all need to do a better job of fostering these relationships, myself included.
"I hope that parents who read this will help open that dialogue with their own child and perhaps make that one 'extra' invitation."
We do too, Jennifer.
Read Jennifer Kiss-Engele's full post here:
Top Comments
How ridiculous. Must people do everything via social media these days? What did we do before Facebook and Twitter? Oh that's right we actually used the telephone to talk to people. I think it is cowardly and rude to jump on facebook and make the child having the party and his parents feel bad without giving them the opportunity to explain. Did she know for certain that all of the kids were invited to the party and only her son was left out?
The only lesson she is passing on to her children is how to avoid confrontation, how to publicly shame people without hearing their side of the story and how to guilt young children into doing what you want.
I didnt realise it was the PARENTS that invited the kids to the party!.... My kids invite the kids they want, thats generally how it works! And im sorry but shaming someone into an invite on social media makes you far worse than the parent in question! Should have spoken to them privately first. And im fully aware of the idea of kids not being invites since my son is ASD and does not get invited much....!
Did you actually bother to read the article? The whole class except for Sawyer was invited. It is not nice to alienate a small child like that.