The art of reaching out...

Today's post kinda goes along with yesterday's.

I had a great visit with Alise in the morning then I went to the grocery store.  I like going to the store during school hours because Wesley isn't with me...I love him dearly, but storing is so much easier without him!  He has been known to knock the cart completely over if he gets upset enough...and this is from inside it!  I don't let him walk in the store EVER!!  He's a big guy and strong as an ox!  All that being said, I am quite used to tantrums in the store and the looks that I get because of them.

I am about a quarter of the way through the store and start hearing shrieks...actually, I was on the phone with my husband and he asked if I had Wesley with me!  :-)  Anyway, I go on with what I am doing but I start over hearing a few people talking about this child screaming.  I'm starting to feel really bad for this mom now.  I know what she's going through.  We happen to be in the same aisle at one point and she actually apologized to me.  I continued going, but all the while thinking about this poor mom.  I decide to seek her out...it wasn't hard to find them, this poor little girl was still screaming.  Mom was really trying to keep it together and get her shopping done, but it was obvious that her nerves were frayed.

Now, before I go on, I would like everyone to understand that this is completely OUT of my comfort zone.  I do NOT do this, EVER!  The reason I felt that I must was because of one lady.  I was dealing with a tantrum in a restaurant one day and she came over to me and hugged me and told me that I was doing a wonderful job.  I will always remember that...when everyone else was looking at me in judgement, she had a kind word to say.

So, I go up to her and immediately tears start streaming down my face while I am trying to let her know that I am not crazy and I just wanted her to know that I know what she's going through.  I explain to her that I have a son with autism and we deal with tantrums on a regular basis.  While standing there talking to her, the little girl doesn't utter a peep.  :-)  She was seriously looking at me like I was completely mad!  So, I said something to her and Mom said that she's getting it a lot lately because they are new to town.  *Ding, Ding*  Light bulb goes off over my head!  I invited her to MOPS!  Genius!

MOPS (Mothers Of PreSchoolers)  is awesome!  We meet twice a month and give moms a change to have some great adult conversations!  I think she was really pleased with this idea.  I just remembered that I forgot to tell her what time!  Eek!  :-)

You know, I didn't hear that little girl screaming again.  :-)

So, how would you have dealt with this situation?  Would you have went on with your day not giving her another thought?  Would you have been someone who thought that what that child needed was a good spanking?  When have you been in this same position?