Tina J. Richardson
Happy St. Pat's Day, everyone! (as I sit here wearing all blue). Please don't pinch me.
This week the grandkids are on Spring break, so I had them on a couple of those days. Wednesday something different happened. Oh, nothing big, just a bit disturbing.
Abby, Alec, and I were out running errands, when we stopped at the good old Goodwill. As I was browsing in one aisle, I hear a crash and a wail from another aisle. It was Alec. He had been looking at a water globe and he dropped it. When it smashed all over the floor, he got very upset. Poor guy! He began shouting, "I sorry! I sorry! I fix it, I tape it!" I went over to him and put my arms around, reassuring him that it was okay and it was no big deal. But the meltdown had begun. He was so upset with himself, that he could not pull it back and kept shouting that he was sorry and that he could fix it. What a pair we must have looked. I'm 5'4" and he's almost 6 foot and we're standing there hugging each other.
Well, about that time, some man had had enough and he gave us such a look and stomped away. In a way, I shouldn't blame him. But . . . protective grandma here had to open her mouth and yell after him, "I guess some people have never met a person who has autism!" The people who were cleaning up the glass really glared at him. The Goodwill works with and for so many with disabilities. They understood and were very nice about the whole deal.
I gave Abby my car keys and had her take Alec out to the car while I paid for the cartful of movies, tapes, and assorted crap that they had chosen. Later, when we were having lunch, she told me she was very mad at me. When I asked why, she said that I must be ashamed of Alec! Wha . . .?? She thought that was the reason I asked them to leave the store was because I was ashamed. I had to explain to her that he needed to exit the situation and get to some quiet place that had nothing to do with the accident. There was not going to be any "stopping him" once he got in that frame of mind. Even when he tried very hard, it is difficult for him to calm down. I realize that Abby was just being protective of her cousin, which is good. But she didn't realize how the situation needed to be handled.
So you see, there were actually two protective women with Alec that day. :)
On a lighter note, I had to feel sorry for daughter Jenna on Saturday night. Since daylight savings time was starting, everyone turned their clocks ahead. Well, Jen happens to collect clocks. I know everybody must have several clocks around their house ie: bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom, whatever. But she has that, plus a whole wall of them. I'll bet she was cussing DST when she had to crank them all to the correct time. hehehe
WARNING! I am slipping in a slightly political opinion here. If you do not care to read it or if it is going to make you mad, STOP HERE!
I know I have been watching too much CNN and MSNBC and whatever. In fact, I think I've gained 5 pounds just from stress eating. But - - - ENOUGH . . . ENOUGH . . . ENOUGH! I am so worried about where this country is going. I never imagined our wonderful USA could change so quickly. Stay strong, people. Hang in there, and hope and pray for the best outcome.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL