A stranger helps frazzled mom traveling with screaming kids

Jessica Rudeen was traveling alone with her two children, an infant and a preschooler. Because of the day's chaos, she was unable to nurse her 4-month-old on schedule and the infant was 'screaming his head off' as they boarded the plane. She settled her excited 3-year-old into her seat, and then she too began to cry, hollering and thrashing that she wanted to get off the plane. To say Jessica was flustered is an understatement. She was afraid they'd actually be 'kicked off.'

Enter a fellow passenger, the hero, Todd. A complete stranger to the family, Todd offered to hold the baby while Jessica calmed the preschooler, buckled her in, and set her up with a movie on a tablet. Then he turned his attention to the little girl so Jessica could feed her son in peace. By the time the plane took off, both children had relaxed. For the duration of the flight, Todd and the little girl colored and chatted, they watched a movie and talked about the sights outside the plane's window. When Jessica told Todd how much she appreciated his compassionate kindness, he told her that a stranger once did the same thing for his own wife and sons. He was just paying it forward.