Adoption can often be a long and emotional journey. But it can also be one of the best things you can do. Dustin and Caren Moore from Orange County, California, are right in the beginning of their journey. They were bringing their brand-new daughter home when they suddenly got an outpouring of love and support from the passengers on their flight home. Some are even calling it a surprise baby shower. But instead of gifts, they received important words of wisdom.
The gesture was unexpected. Instead, the couple seemed worried that they were traveling with a new baby, as babies can often disrupt flights. Instead, everyone seemed understanding and willing to help out the couple the best they could. Since it's rare to hear a story about an airplane ride that's even better than expected, this story is even more important. It'll remind you that not all passengers are out to ruin your flight. Instead, some are willing to make it truly memorable.
Dustin tweeted what happened in a thread that any new parent could relate to. It all started when their new baby needed a diaper change mid-flight.
Jenny, a flight attendant, made sure to clear some space for the new parents in the back of the plane so they could change their baby in peace. When another flight attendant came to the back, he was curious about the baby and asked questions. There, Dustin shared their adoption story. Pretty soon, the whole plane knew about it.
On Twitter, Dustin made sure to point out that they were flying on Southwest Airlines. The flight was traveling from Colorado to California, where the couple lives. Dustin felt bad being on the flight to begin with. Not only did they have a new baby with them, but they also had plenty of bags. If you've ever been on a plane before, you can probably envision it.
Instead, the flight attendants and passengers were overjoyed. After Dustin and Caren's daughter was changed and Bobby the flight attendant learned their story, Bobby made a point to welcome the new family on the intercom. After Bobby said that their daughter was on her flight home, everyone cheered. It was a beautiful moment.
But that wasn't it. Now Dustin and Caren were more or less all-stars on the plane. Bobby gave everyone on the flight napkins and pens and encouraged them to write down any sort of parenting wisdom they wanted to pass on to the two new parents. If that's not a lovely gesture, I'm not sure what is.
The crew then read some of the best napkins out loud. It was the perfect way to not only welcome the new addition but get the whole flight involved in the story. Perhaps group games should occur more often if passengers are willing to partake. They're definitely more entertaining than most of the in-flight movies.
S0 where did Bobby get the inspiration for this idea? Well, to sweeten the story, it turns out that Bobby and Jenny are an item. When the two of them went on their honeymoon, an attendant pulled the same move on them. Who knows? Maybe a passenger's advice was "tour the world with your spouse as flight attendants," and it changed everything.
It meant even more, since Dustin revealed that he and Caren have been trying for kids for nine years. So in a way, the unexpected "baby shower" was a celebration of their journey up to this point. They were finally able to start a family, and strangers from all over the world were there to support them.
Showcasing the scrapbook filled with napkins, all of which included incredible advice, Dustin advised that it's a good reminder to pay it forward. We hear about so many awful interactions, and those are the ones that usually go viral. But it's always important to know that there are still so many incredibly kind people out there, just like Bobby and Jenny.
Bobby and Jenny didn't intend to go viral. They didn't post what they did themselves or make themselves look like heroes. They celebrated the new parents in an easy yet meaningful way because they knew how good it felt to have people by your side. Every single one of us is going through something right now, and that extra pat on the back is always appreciated.
The story also sheds some light on adoption. According to the National Adoption Foundation, it can take anywhere from two to seven years to adopt a newborn baby. Adopting an older child is often a little easier, but it still requires a lot of patience, paperwork, and waiting. Usually, it's around six to 18 months to add an older child to your family.
If you're part of a couple who've been trying to have a biological child, you might have already gone through years of trying. So many people out there are aching to be parents, which makes it even more unfortunate. However, once an adoption goes through, it'll positively change the life of the child forever.
Let this story encourage you to make a positive change in the world. If you know a family who just had a baby — either biologically or through adoption or foster care — offer to help them out. See if they'll accept any frozen meals to make their first few weeks a little less chaotic. Or just lend an ear if they need to vent. It's a loving time, but also a big change for everyone.
If you don't, consider volunteering at an organization that can always need extra help — one that benefits either children or even fur babies if you're more of an animal person. Just remember to do this for others. Don't use it as an excuse to boast on social media, unless you're actively trying to get other potential volunteers interested.
Best of luck to Dustin and Caren for making their dreams come true. Their daughter will always have an incredible story for when she gets 0lder. Who knows? Maybe when she's an adult, she'll treat in-flight adoption news the same way. It seems like everyone involved will pay it forward at some point.
