As adults, we’re a little wary of one another. Unless we really like someone, we’re unlikely to get too physically close with them. Hugs and even handshakes can feel awkward with a stranger.
But children don’t think like that. Even shy kids tend to be pretty affectionate – with their parents and friends, but also with people they’ve never met.
Of course, stranger danger is incredibly important, but children often have good instincts on who to trust.
So when one little boy approached a police officer in McDonald’s, he only had one thing in mind: a hug.
Jamie Hubbard, mom to 3-year-old T.J., stopped by the fast-food restaurant on a rainy day that started like any other.
Fort Worth Officer Colter was also in McDonald’s on that day. He was sitting alone at a table, as cops on shift often are, enjoying his food.
This was pre-COVID, so there was no mask-wearing or social distancing – a simpler time!
As it turned out, T.J. is a huge fan of motorcycles. Officer Colter was riding a motorbike that day, and Jamie joked with him that he should give T.J. a ride.
In T.J.’s ideal world, Officer Colter would have given him a spare helmet, popped him on the back of his bike, and taken him for a quick tour around the block.
But, of course, that would be breaking about a million different rules, and Officer Colter knew that. He could never risk it – imagine the stick he’d get from his boss!
Officer Colter didn’t want to leave T.J. with nothing, so he gave him a sticker of a police badge.
Perhaps the officer thought that the 3-year-old would be pretty pleased with his sticker, but he assumed that that was the end of the interaction.
Little T.J., however, had other plans – and he walked right up to Officer Colter’s table to do what he had in mind.
Jamie, who says her son is naturally very shy, knew that this was a moment too special to keep to herself.
She whipped out her phone and captured the adorable moment for the world to see.
On camera, we can see T.J. nervously approaching Officer Colter. He comes right up close to him, then pauses, almost as if he doesn’t know how to ask for permission for what he’s about to do.
Luckily, Jamie is there to simplify matters. We hear her say, “He wanted to give you a hug,” and that’s all it takes!
Officer Colton, clearly being a good-natured cop, makes it happen.
He says, “Oh, you wanted to give me a hug? Okay!” The next minute, the pair are having a sweet cuddle.
Jamie shared the sweet video online, and the Fort Worth Police Department picked it up too, sharing it on their Facebook.
There was no way that something this cute wouldn’t go viral, and unsurprisingly, the video was shared more than 2,000 times.
Jamie is pleased that her son understands that there’s a person behind the intimidating cop exterior.
She said:
“It is more important now than ever that our children learn that these officers are wives and husbands, moms and dads, and they are there to be their friend and to help keep them safe.”
You can watch the adorable video below.
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