Who Are You to Judge? View Point of a Parent with an Autistic Child

I was recently reading about a family who has not 1, but 3 disabled children. They, as a family, face the challenge of someone else judging them when the children get out of hand. People stop and stare at them, no doubt like they have 3 heads, and probably thinking their mother should be publicly disciplining them. Excuse me, but Who Are You To Judge!?

Children with disabilities, with the exception of those with an obvious affliction, usually look PERFECTLY normal. I know, I am the mother of an Autistic son. He looks perfectly normal, and yet, when he acts up in public, I can feel the stares. How I choose to discipline my son is NONE of anyone's business.

If, let's say, he's getting verbally disrespectful, and I choose to merely ignore him in favor of getting things done and getting out of the store, that's NONE of your business. If I am upsetting you, try minding your own business and walking away. Some people, who may work in Special Education, pick up on Matt's behaviors and recognize it for what it is and mind their own business. One woman actually spoke to him, gently guiding him to the proper behavior, instead of giving me dirty glares. She was a teacher and knew the signs of Autism. Not everyone does, but that's no excuse really.

Just because your kids are "normal" doesn't mean you should judge me for how my son behaves or how I choose or don't choose to discipline him. Normal kids are just as rude, if not more so, than a child with a disability. "Normal" kids sometimes treat their parents with such disrespect, that you have to wonder how it got so out of control, and the kids know better. But, you know what? It's none of my business. Parenting is hard. Kids can be difficult with or without a disability.

So, please... next time you see a child acting up in public, and the harried parent is trying their hardest to get something accomplished, MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS. If they don't discipline their child, that's their problem, not yours. With many disabilities on the rise, that child could be Autistic, have ADD, or some other diagnosis. Have a little compassion, and remember that it could be your child having an issue. Be thankful if they don't.