We all eat so therefore we must go to the grocery store. As a mother of five little ones I try my best to go when most of my little loves are at school. It’s both easier and cheaper on me. However some days things don’t workout like I plan and I end up taking a few with me. I’m sure we are entertaining for our fellow shoppers to watch. Which leads me to this blog.
A few days ago my youngest and I made a quick run to the local Food City before picking up the boys from preschool (I had ran out of coffee, I don’t function without coffee) Naturally she had been fighting sleep all morning so as soon as I placed her in the car she was out. At this point I had a decision to make: go to the store anyway and hope she did not wake up or go get in the preschool pickup line early let and let her sleep and then take my three youngest to the store. I did not feel like spending twenty extra dollars on cheap matchbox cars or whatever toy happened to catch my boys’ eyes so I opted to take my sleeping beauty to the store. 
I know we would not be long so I carried her. She did look sweet with her little head rested on my shoulder as I made my way up and down the aisles. People stopped and let me cross in front of them or just stopped to smile at her. The words “she precious” and “look how sweet she is” came out of more than a few mouths. When I got to the register to checkout there were only two lanes opened. As I waited patiently a young clerk, early twenties max, came over and asked if I was ready to checkout. I told him I was, after all I was standing in line, and he took my little shopping chart and walked it over to lane 3. He offered to carry my things out, but I told him I could manage and smiled. I grabbed my three bags in my right hand(I always buy more than what I go in for) and out the door we went. As we were walking out the door two more people stopped me and asked if they could help me to my car.
Why can’t people’s response be this way when I have my son with me?
This question has made me both mad and hurt me over the last couple of days.
JR loves to spend time with me. The problem if we are anywhere other than our home his system goes into overdrive. When I found out the grocery store had special needs shopping charts I was ecstatic. The normal charts he can no longer get his legs in and if I place him in the chart there is no room for the groceries. Does not sound like a big problem, but to an autistic six year old trust me it is. So about a month ago I decided to take him shopping with me. Just me and him while my husband stayed home with our other kids. He was so excited. When he saw the chart his arms started flying. He giggled and said ” hey momma look at me” all through the store. He is loud, he can’t help it. He covered and uncovered his eyes a thousand times for the fluorescent lights hurt them. He covered his ears as we passed the cooler because the humming rolling off of them was loud. He screamed when he saw the lobsters in the water tank. He didn’t notice the people starring at him. But I did. Some shook their heads while others whispered. Times like these I am thankful for his autism for he does not see that they are judging him. I even passed a store employee and I watched as her eyes traced my son as to say, ” why are you using that chart he looks perfectly normal” I tried to let it go but I could not. I went up to the employee and told them to thank the store manager for getting the charts in. I made it a point to tell her he was excited to be able to go to the store with his mom and that I wished every store, not just grocery stores, had these charts. She facial expression changed a little and she said she would be sure to tell the store owner. I thanked her and proceeded to go check out. We waited our turn in the long line and not one person offered to help me and me wailing six year old to the car they were just happy to see us go.
I get it, babies are cute and sweet and everyone makes over them. And for the record my daughter is adorable, however so is my son. I’m so tired of the stares. And he is only six. What will it be like when he turns 10, 16, or 21? Why could they not see that he was just enjoying the day with his momma? Why would you ask a mom if she needed help with a sleeping baby and not ask to help a mom who’s child is having a meltdown? I get so tired of the If you took him out more he would learn to behave comments. It does not work that way, he does not work that way. Why can people see what I see in him?
From our beautiful chaos to yours look past the differences of others we are all beautifully made.
Beautiful Chaos Momma 