Who Cares?

I refuse to stay home. My kids are a challenge to take into public, I'm not going to lie. However, Chick-Fil-A has been a pretty safe place to take them in the past. We recently moved to the east coast from the west coast. Out west, I took my kids to Chick-Fil-A about once a week for the several years I lived there. We went often enough that the employees who worked there knew me. I felt safe. My kids did well. My boys knew the drill, they followed the rules, and most of the social rules, for the most part. When other kids got rowdy, my boys got rowdy. When other children were screaming, of course, my boys would follow right along and scream too.

Today was different. I am not sure why. A new Chick-Fil-A? A new community of mothers? An "off day" for Taz? Who knows. I wouldn't refer to it as a successful trip to Chick-Fil-A, but maybe I learned something from this experience and hopefully Taz learned something. So I guess learning might equal success somehow.

We brought a friend of Sissy's along today, so I had five children in all. Everything seemed to be going smooth. My boys ran into the play area, and I kept Blu with me while I ordered food. As soon as food arrived, everyone came to eat, they were all clearly very hungry. '

Then Gizmo and Taz ran back into play.

A few minutes went by and I noticed a few little kids come out of the play area crying to their mothers, who were sitting nearby. The older kids were pointing into the play area referring to "he" and "him" and I decided I better investigate since I had two "hes" in the play area who might be the culprit.

Sure enough, Taz had "screamed" and scared a few kids. Of course I talked to Taz and told him not to scream. Within a few minutes, two different mothers came out and said he was screaming again. As were a few other children. Of course my kid is the loudest, and the most obvious, so he gets the blame. I explained to the mothers, whose glares softened as they learned of Taz's autism. However, their looks and glances that followed did not go unnoticed. Taz took a little break and then went back into the play area. After five minutes or so I noticed another little girl crying and two women (not the same as before) comforting her and glaring at Taz, looking very upset. Sissy came bursting out saying Taz had kicked her in the face, and then the women came out with the crying little girl. I apologized for Taz and again explained his disability, they responded kindly, however, I was done, and Taz's practice session was over.

How many times in one visit do I have to apologize for my son? I haven't had to hover over Taz since he was 4 or 5, why would I want to put those kinds of restrictions on him now? Needless to say, I left in tears. I felt the world of Chick Fil A moms boring holes through me with their beady self-righteous eyes. I want to get through to my son that he needs to be gentle and aware of little ones, and how to act "appropriately" in a chaotic playroom at a fast food restaurant. I am not even sure he knew he hurt her the little girl, so was a lesson even taught? He said he was sorry, and I am not sure he understood. I feel like taking him into the community is important so he can learn to handle these situations. When will I be able to conquer the overwhelming worries I have of "caring what people think". Because WHO REALLY CARES, right? Hopefully when I muster up the courage to face stranger moms again, we will have a more successful visit next time.