Age 4 Girl Dresses as Her Aunt's Assistance Dog for Heartwarming Reason
When 4-year-old Charlotte told her mom that she wanted to dress up as a princess for her school’s book week, like her friends, her mom encouraged to think a little more outside of the box. The costume she picked instead holds a much deeper meaning.
Oh, book week. I have fond memories of dressing up as Sam from “Sam and the Tigers”: red coat, green umbrella, silver shoes, and all. I remember feeling a little silly, but I was excited to share one of my favorite books with my friends at school.
Charlotte had a moment of doubt as she got ready to go to school during her own book week. She was worried that most of her friends would be dressed as princesses and she wouldn’t be “pretty” like them.
But her mother, Belle Higgins, encouraged Charlotte to think creatively and try to come up with a different book she could base her costume on.
After some thought, Charlotte pulled out a very special book given to her by her aunt: “Next Door’s Dog Has a Job” by Gina Dawson. Her aunt has an assistance dog and the book helps explain the importance of service animals and how to interact with them.
The sweet toddler decided she wanted to dress up like her aunt’s assistance dog, Thaddeus.
Both Charlotte and her mom cried a little bit the morning of the big day, but Higgins thought that her sister, Charlotte’s aunt, could help calm the toddler down.
“Without a second thought my sister jumped in the car and drove an hour to meet us at the day care with her special dog Thaddeus, which I am so grateful for as I know some days just leaving the house is hard,” Higgins wrote on news.com.au.
Charlotte’s aunt put Thaddeus’ vest on and read the book to her niece’s class. Higgins said that she was extremely proud of both her daughter and her sister.
Higgins wrote, “Not only is it important to me to educate children properly on not approaching or touching dogs they don’t know, but to also understand the important job that some dogs have and how these special dogs help people suffering with issues that sometimes are not visible to the eye.
“Raising awareness for mental health issues is so important to me personally and should be talked about more,” she continued. “That is why I wanted to share this story and these pictures just in case anyone today is feeling unsupported or alone.”
Higgins stressed the importance of not giving up on loved ones who struggle with their mental health.
“I don’t fully understand the science behind it, but I can certainly attest to an unseen strength that comes to those who reach out and lift another. Never give up on someone with a mental illness. When ‘I’ is replaced by ‘we,’ illness becomes wellness.”
Lastly, Higgins encouraged others to reach out to those around them and check in.
“Can you reach out and check in with someone today to see how they are really doing? I challenge you. I know I will be.”
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