Friday, November 2, 2007

Strangers & The Stress They Create For Autistic Children


It’s 4:30 p.m. on a Thursday afternoon. I’ve ran several errands with two of my children. My tween daughter and I, with my Autistic 4 year old set out to Lowe’s, Wal-Mart and then Pet Smart. All were planned to be quick, efficient, and all without pushing my youngest sons comfort levels overboard. A total meltdown with him leads to me fighting a panic attack…there’s been a few shopping trips that have left us both sobbing for a few minutes after we were secured into our seatbelts. But we do the best we can do.

So, we’ve ran these other errands and he’s done so well. He was good in the store as I picked out the fish and plants I wanted and I was feeling so accomplished with our outing. We get to the counter and there is the woman who has worked there for many years and has just always been an unpleasant woman. I could really care less but she’s rude to my children and corrects them like a parent should…a total stranger, disciplining my children? I think not...

Continue Article...