We'll eat where we want

"Supposedly the child was autistic which I didn't  know nor does it matter"

Hi, my name is Karrie. I am the mother of a child with Autism and IT DOES matter.  It always matters.  

Let's take ourselves on a stroll back to grade school.  Does anyone remember how many senses we as human beings have?  Wait for it ... YES!  We have 5.  

*Sight

*Touch

*Taste

*Smell 

*Hearing

I'm going to go out on a leap here and guess that most people can figure out pretty quickly how many of these senses are "abnormal" in a person with Autism.  YES!  All of them!!  All 5 senses affect someone with Autism differently than they do you or I.  Smells can be null or heightened to the point of avoidance.  Same for taste, touch, sight and sounds. Some Autistic individuals are loud.  Some are quiet.  Some love touch and some can not be touched.  Some speak.  Some do not.  Ever.  Take a minute.  Some babies never say mommy.  Some children never say I love you.  Some adults have never been able to vocally express themselves.  Ever.

Fast forward back to the restaurant.  A child - A CHILD was "shrieking" (perfect word choice by the way, let's make this a little more insulting).  This child "supposedly" had Autism.  Not that I care.  Unlike some people, I don't feel like the world should revolve around myself and how peacefully I am enjoying my breakfast.  HOWEVER, let's just say this child DID in fact have Autism.  I can bet you with my life that he/she was experiencing some sensory overload.  Sensory - the 5 senses.  I can only imagine the mother trying to figure out how to calm her child ... how to help relieve some of the pain that this overload was causing.  This child could have been having a meltdown - sure! Did the restaurant have dishes banging, people making small talk, white plate vs black, a 4 prong fork instead of 3 prong fork, a different hostess than last time, did they catch wind of someones perfume that was too strong?  If the child can't tell you ... you have no idea. 

For one mother to ever judge another mother is terrible.  For them to judge one that has a special needs child and is doing their best from day to day to make this world accepting of their child ... well wow, that is a whole other level.  

I feel sorry for you.  I feel so very sorry for you.  

I'm also sorry that ONE of your senses was disrupted at breakfast.  Sure, it could have been annoying to you.  But do you know what?  That child that you are continuously posting about trying to receive some form of validation for being annoyed with was having a much harder time than you.  To be honest, your awkward glares could have been the problem.  You could have had perfume on that he/she couldn't handle.  Your well behaved children could have dropped a utensil on the floor and the sound could have felt like it punctured their ear drum.  Maybe you had on clothes that weren't color coded perfectly.  Maybe you didn't smile at them. The list goes on ...

So before you judge someone for being the problem and saying that "it doesn't matter" if the child has Autism - think again.  YOU could have very well been the problem.  Do some research.  Lose the ignorance. Or stay home and stop eating out.  There are a lot of us that won't be leaving the restaurants for you.  1 in 68.

April is Autism Awareness Month.  It does matter.  It always matters.