Boy with Down Syndrome Goes to Store Every Week Just to See His Favorite Employee Who Looks Like Him

When a mother took her son with Down syndrome to a Kroger store, she had no idea that her little boy would develop an instant connection with an employee. Their adorable bond made the mother feel hopeful about her son's future.

Allyson Mize frequently went grocery shopping with her son with Down syndrome, Charlie, but none of the visits surprised her until she went to Kroger with her son.

It was a typical day for Mize when she entered the store with her two-year-old boy. She skimmed through the aisles and grabbed the groceries she needed before stopping at the check-out counter, where something special awaited her.

Meeting the Employee

An employee named Erin Hoffman was putting Mize's groceries in bags when she approached the mother after looking at Charlie. Hoffman asked Mize if her son had Down syndrome.

When Mize said yes, Hoffman told her she also had the same condition. Then the employee asked Mize if she could hold her baby, but the mother felt her son wouldn't want to go in her arms.

Usually, Charlie never felt comfortable when someone else held him in their arms, but he didn't feel the same with Hoffman. Mize was surprised to see how her son reacted.

An Instant Connection

Charlie looked into Hoffman's eyes, and they both smiled at each other. It felt like the little boy knew he was with someone who was just like him.

Watching Hoffman work like others gives Mize hope for her son's future.

Mize visited the store with Charlie the next week and was stunned to see that her son bonded with the chirpiest employee of the store again. Hoffman met them at check-out again, and the duo couldn't stop adoring each other.

Weekly Meetings

Hoffman was known as the happiest employee at the Kroger store. She would greet the customers with a smile and try her best to help them however she could. Her kindness and cheerful nature made her stand out from the other employees.

After that day, Mize made it a ritual to go to the store with Charlie and meet Hoffman every Tuesday. The mother felt great seeing her son bond with Hoffman. She believed the employee was her son's best friend.

When Charlie met his favorite employee at check-out, he helped her put groceries in the bag. Sometimes, Hoffman also took Charlie on a ride through the aisles. She said:

“It feels great inside my heart.”

Feeling Hopeful

Once, Mize clicked a photo of Hoffman and Charlie looking into each other's eyes and showed it to her husband. After looking at the adorable picture, her husband said the pair had a "chromie connection."

Besides delighting in her son's connection with Hoffman, Mize feels inspired and hopeful whenever she meets the employee. Watching Hoffman work like others gives Mize hope for her son's future.

Since people always told Mize that individuals with Down syndrome have difficulty leading an everyday life, she was concerned about her son's future. However, looking at Mize made her forget all her worries.

"One of the misconceptions about people with Down Syndrome is that they cannot hold down jobs. Well, clearly, Erin is proving that wrong," Mize said in her Facebook post from 2018.

Mize hopes her son grows up to be as kind as Hoffman and contributes to society as she does. The mother never thought visiting a grocery store would inspire her and give her a new perspective on her son's life.

The Online Reaction

When netizens learned about Charlie's connection with Hoffman, they couldn't help but share their feelings in the comments section. Here are a few comments from a Facebook post about the duo:

"My stepson has Down syndrome. Everywhere we go, anyone else with Down syndrome just connects. It's awkward but a reality. We just let them greet like they've known each other for years. Life's like that sometimes."

― (@Mark Coulter) February 6, 2019

"Absolutely beautiful. No matter what a person has from a disability, they can do anything and everything they set out to do with time, guidance, and determination. Years ago, children with Down syndrome were totally ignored, but now we embrace them all. God bless them both."

― (@Claudia Tyler Mathieu) February 6, 2019

"For some reason, I can't stop smiling after watching that!"

― (@Susie Kroeger) February 6, 2019

We wish Charlie and Hoffman all the best and hope they keep inspiring people positively. We also hope the little one grows up to be as kind as his best friend.

Click here to read what happened when a brother with Down syndrome saw his sister in a wedding dress for the first time. His reaction will melt your heart!