Lately I have been feeling somewhat like a jerk. It seems that I have really been pissing people off lately. Here's an example:
Today me and two of my girlfriends decided to meet at McDonald's so the kids could play on the play land. Taegen and Kyler had been playing on the play land for maybe ten minutes.
This lady stands up and shouts "who's kid is wearing the green shirt with stripes?"
I raise my hand.
She says "You need to discipline your kids. He's pushing and hitting everybody."
(Um...excuse me lady)
Anyways, so then I go and grab KYLER (who is wearing a green shirt with stripes) and say, "is this the one that you are complaining about?"
She turns to her 5 year old granddaughter and says "is this the one who hit you?"
She says "yes."
I say, "So you're yelling at me to discipline my 2 year old child with down syndrome who is still learning communication skills for hitting your 5 year old granddaughter?"
She says, "Everybody is complaining about him. He has been hitting and pushing."
So, I ask everybody in the room (mind you, there is about 10 moms and tons of kids). "Is my kid bothering anybody else or their kids?"
Everybody says "NO" (how could he be bothering them when we just got there. I had been watching him and I didn't see him hit or push anybody.)
I said to the lady "your at a McDonald's play land, your kids might get hurt."
She said "ya, but I discipline them when they do something wrong."
Then I turn to the lady and say "It's people like you who make people like me never want to come to an indoor playground again."
Seriously, KYLER. I mean KYLER who is tiny and weighs like 25 pounds! Give me a break!
I was IRATE (to put it nicely) I had to leave and go outside and leave my wild and reckless children unattended (my girlfriends were there).
So, back to my original discussion about feeling like I am a jerk. This is what I have decided. I am only a jerk when the other person is way out of line (ie occupational therapist, stupid McDonald's lady). I don't let people walk all over me. I will say something. I don't just sit down and let myself be intimated when I believe something should be said. I will stand up for myself and my kids and if that makes me a jerk - so be it! Anybody else want to cross paths with me?
10 comments:
Krista
What a horrible incident. What an awful lady. Sometimes you wonder where people come up with things they do? Great job defending yourself and your children. They are lucky to have you for an advocate. Hang in there!
You seriously are my hero! I am happy that you said something to that lady. I have taken one of my students with Autism to different places and when he doesn't do the "norm" people get so irritated. I wish the world would be a bit more educated on special needs children because so often they are DUMB!
Megan Keeney
Ha! I totally snapped at a woman on an airplane who kept giving me nasty looks because my very tired baby was crying. Yeah lady, that should make her stop. Would you care to rock her for a while? Some people just oxaloasuccinate, you know?
Jerk? HECK NO! ARe you kidding me! That lady was out of line. I would like to meet any parent who's child has hit or picked on another on, especially at that age. I am so happy to see a mom like you who will stand up for there kid. Seriously, you just made me proud to know you - you go girl!
nope, not a jerk. Actually, you are totally my hero. Kevin says you are Awesome.
That lady was a beast, and I think she felt pretty stupid afterwards. Notice she left pretty quick there?
Look out - vigilante mama on the loose....
You crack me up Krista. Your boys are all darling (in a very he-man, masculine kind of way). Hang in there, I wouldn't want to upset you by telling you it DOESN'T get any easier. You HAVE to be tough.
Holy Cow - remind me never, ever to *^#*()^! you off! Some days are diamonds, some days are stones! Keep smiling!
Maybe she's related to the lovely lady I ran into at Chuck E. Cheese last month?
You're not the jerk, she is. Not to mention a bully. Way to stick up for Kyler and yourself. Maybe she'll think twice before she opens her mouth again.
when my daughter had a special needs son, at his 6 week check up, the huge doctor got on his knees in front of my meek sweet daughter sitting on a chair holding our beatiful grandson, and he told her, "now you are going to have to learn to be a _ itch." I was shocked, and she surely was. But he was warning her of the ignorance in the world. We all need to write President Obama and tell him how AWFUL that HE would attack the defenseless. You go!! ( I am Steven's mom- just browsing blogs for a sec, was attracted by your "should I just leave him here" loved it....
OH SNAP!! I can just picture that crochity old lady after you told her off. Serves her right, I hope she cried all the way home on her broomstick!
(This is Nick again, I don't know how all this fancy blog stuff works so hopefully you can read this.)
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