VIRAL | Touched mother makes letter to thank "teenage" boy who helped young daughter learn how to skate

Jeanen Thomas and her young daughter Peyton were at a local skate park when they came across a group of intimidating teenage boys. However, one of them beyond her prejudice made an act of kindness which changed the way Thomas thought of these boys. 

Peyton, Thomas’ 6-year-old daughter, had been amazed by the boys who pass by the playground and go to the skate park located in Cambridge, Ontario. This interest increased; soon enough she wanted to try skateboarding too. At first, Peyton assumed it was a boy sport, but she and her mother “had a long talk — there's no such thing as boy things or girl things, there's just things, so if something interests you, you can do it."

Dear teenage boy at the skate park... pic.twitter.com/78ry5esoTa

— Jeanean Thomas (@JeaneanThomas) October 11, 2015

Thomas, who’s now 29 years old, was a skateboarder herself. One day, the mom-daughter duo decided to scavenge Thomas’ their basement for her childhood skateboard, bought a pink helmet, and try it out at the skate park. Upon arrival, a couple of older boys intimidated Peyton. Thomas saw some of them smoking and even swearing. 

In just a few minutes, to her surprise, one boy approached Peyton and gave her skateboarding tips. Peyton did have a great time learning. Later that night, Thomas was so touched she wrote a "Dear teenage boy at the skate park" letter, letting the boy’s parents’ know how nice a kid he is. In the viral letter, Thomas said, “She proceeded to go down the ramp in spite of you and your friends flying past her and grinding rails beside her. She only had two or three runs in before you approached her and said ‘Hey, excuse me…’ I immediately prepared to deliver my ‘She’s allowed to use this park just as much as you guys’ speech when I heard you say ‘You’re feet are wrong. Can I help you?’ 

Thomas thanked him saying, "I want you to know that I am proud that you are part of my community, and I want to thank you for being so kind to my daughter, even though your friends made fun of you for it. She left with a sense of pride and with the confidence that she can do anything, because of you." Not only did he help her how to balance and steer, he also gave her a sense of belonging.