The kindness of strangers: Two helicopter pilots flew down low to wave to my three-year-old son – he was beside himself with joy

My son adores helicopters, so we waved as hard as possible as it flew past. Then it suddenly looped and came back around

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My sister lives in Ukraine; I live in Australia. We had gone five long years without seeing each other when we finally reunited during a trip to Los Angeles. One day we took my three-year-old son to the beach and spent the afternoon catching up.

We had a lot of conversations about people and kindness that day. I told her how I had noticed a softer side to men since having a son. As a woman, you’re often wary of construction workers, for example – what might they say to me when I walk past? But now when I pass a building site with my son, the workers often let him play with their radio, or beep a tractor to make him laugh. It was very heartwarming and gave me a whole new perspective on the other sex.

As I shared this observation with my sister, a coastguard helicopter flew overhead. My son adores helicopters and is always fascinated to see one, so we all waved as hard as possible as it flew past.