I believe that every mother of a child diagnosed with Autism has to deal with rude people. The hardest part for me, is when they say things right to my child or in front of him. I was at a grocery store one day, with my son. We were at the register and I was getting ready to pay for some items. A lady behind us in line had put her fruit up an the conveyer belt and my son was fascinated with one piece of fruit. I didn't notice right away,(I was getting my money out). Just as I was looking up, the lady started yelling at my son. I quietly asked him to put it down, and he did. I then turned and told the lady not to talk to my son that way. That I was right there and handling the situation.I thought it would be nice to ask everyone if they have a story to share. Something that happened out in public and how you handled it. Sometimes, if we hear how another person handled a certain situation, it can help us handle a similar one we are forced to deal with. Please reply in the comments and share your story.
11 comments:
sometimes people are just rude and it has nothing to do with children or otherwise. sorry your son was embarassed that way, though.
Hi Tammy.
I just wanted to thank you and let your readers know about your guest post on my site today.
http://iamharriet.blogspot.com
Thanks again!
Tammy, I am so sorry that you and your son have to endure that! If they had to walk one day in your shoes I am sure they would be humbled! Just remember that there are those of us out there who appreciate you son for WHO he is not what he HAS!
I grew up with a disability from birth, and I have my share of stories to add to your blog. People just don't understand, until they too have a disability or a child with Autism. They won't ever understand, nor try to understand until they have to deal with it themselves. Nothing you or I could say to try to get them to understand either.
My son has Aspergers. He is high functioning and looks absolutely like the rest of us. Other family members refuse to believe he has anything wrong and therefore they are always threatening to give him a good clip under the ear for being rude.
I frequently feel hurt that my son feels hurt, however, I turn our hurt into a learning experience for both the rude ones and for ourselves.
Social understanding and social inclusion are something that yearn for and strive towards and I am grateful for everything my son has taught me and bought to my life.
I think many people are just having a bad day and take it out on anyone especially little kids that cannot defend themselves. I think it is so sad to live without empathy and compassion, they need help these people. You can only politely put them in their place as direct confrontation would make things just too ugly. I do believe in defending our kids though. I think you are a great and proud Mum and hav every right to be. Your son is a gift from Heaven and that is enough to take away all the pain.
Children teach us how to love and most often people forget this. People can be rude to not only autistic children but to anybody at times.
I feel what you did was perfact, just putting your point firmly. As I am in touch with autistic kids, some parents do share there experiences with me, but that largely depends on situation.
I'm sorry you and your son had that terrible experience. Unfortunately, it's a fact of life that you encounter rude people, who shout at you for no reason...
I commend you for being cool amidst the situation you and your son were in. If it was me, I would have lost it. I can never tolerate rude people especially to children.
i did have experienced of how people treat kids with autism and felt bad about it. sometimes they do not have to say something to them, just by the way they look at the kid, i can tell. i taught kids before at our church, and kids tried to avoid kid with autism. so sad.
It's very interesting article, I like it !
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