Bus Driver Notices Crying 4-Year-Old and Holds His Hand on His First-Ever Day of School

A little boy was frightened when he boarded the school bus on his first-ever day of school. He cried inconsolably and tried to grab his mother’s hand as she got off. But when she turned around, she saw something heartwarming that stopped his tears.

Do you still remember your first-ever day of school? Those jitters and the tingling fear that felt like your mom is sending you away from home forever. And those teary-eyed goodbyes as the school bus sped away into the light of the day…Well, how can we forget them?!

When Amy Johnson helped her 4-year-old son Axel board his school bus to a pre-kindergarten in Wisconsin, she wanted to capture his special first day of school photo. Axel’s eyes gushed with tears, and while he was drowned in panic, a little act of kindness from his school bus driver made the internet talk.

Axel Johnson with his mother Amy Johnson | Source: YouTube / BRProud News – NBC Local 33 / Fox44

THE FRIGHTFUL MOMENT THE BUS DOOR OPENED 

Little Axel was always excited to go to school. When the big day finally arrived in September 2019, he was all smiles on seeing his school bus driver slow down around the corner. But then, the driver saw the little boy’s face turn eerily calm and nervous.

She never imagined her small gesture of kindness would blow up to this level.

Axel was frightened, and seeing the bus door open up in front of him made him anxious. He cried inconsolably, assuming his mom would change her mind and hug him home. But that didn’t happen. 

Axel Johnson with his mother Amy Johnson | Source: YouTube / BRProud News – NBC Local 33 / Fox44

SUNKEN IN FEAR & ANXIETY 

Axel’s face reddened in fear as Johnson picked him up and helped him onto the bus. He clung to her and cried his lungs out. That is when Isabel Lane, his new bus driver, showed him a seat right behind her to comfort him. But she didn’t stop at that.

Johnson told him “Buddy, you got this and will have so much fun,” and got off the bus because she wanted to click that perfect picture of her son on his first bus ride to school.

Whether he was crying or not, the mom wanted to snap the moment. She got off the bus while Axel painfully kept grabbing for her.

Axel Johnson | Source: YouTube / BRProud News – NBC Local 33 / Fox44

COMPASSIONATE & KIND 

At this point, Lane stuck her hand behind so that the little boy would have something to grab onto. Axel clutched onto Lane’s hand as his mom turned around, still wanting that perfect click.

It wasn’t Axel’s smiling photo she thought she would click. Instead, Johnson snapped an adorable picture of her son and Lane holding hands on the school bus.

The Augusta Police Department posted this touching picture on social media, and it garnered a positively overwhelming reaction from the internet, with many praising Lane for her kindness.

A LITTLE ACT OF KINDNESS GOES A LONG WAY

Lane, who had been the bus driver for the Augusta School District for a little under a year, was stunned by all the attention she amassed. She never imagined her small gesture of kindness would blow up to this level. She said:

“I don’t think it was like that big of a deal personally…I guess it’s just something that I would do.”

Lane’s compassion amazed everyone and made a huge difference to Axel from that day onward. He didn’t have any more jitters about going to school and had harbored a special bond with Lane.

Axel Johnson & Isabel Lane | Source: YouTube / BRProud News – NBC Local 33 / Fox44

HAPPY TO GO TO SCHOOL 

“The day after that, he was waiting at the bus stop all by himself,” Lane revealed, adding:

“He got on all smiles and talking to me the whole time…so, yeah, he’s doing much better now!”

After her gesture went viral, Lane became one of the most talked-about people to foster compassion among humanity. “I could see that he needed to be comforted, and that was the best I could do at the time,” she recounted.

Axel Johnson & Isabel Lane | Source: YouTube / BRProud News – NBC Local 33 / Fox44

A ROLE MODEL 

Johnson was pleased with Axel’s keenness to go to school after the incident. She felt that he was comforted and reassured after talking to Lane on his first day of school.

“Now he gets on the bus every day ready to go and loves school,” the proud mother said. She was also moved by Lane’s kindhearted gesture and compassion for her son and the kids who rode her bus.

As for Axel, he is anticipated to be a role model for his younger 2-year-old brother, who would soon learn how to overcome his first day of school jitters!

Tell us about your first day of school experience. Did you meet someone who comforted you and boosted your confidence in getting started with your school life, like how Isabel Lane cheered Axel Johnson? What is your opinion on her little act of kindness?

Click here to read about how a little boy’s quick thinking saved his day after his school bus driver dropped him at the wrong location.

Anomama