Dear Teens at the Movies…
A chance encounter in the ladies room brings forth a revelation for a special needs mom.
Dear Teens in the Bathroom,
I know how excited you must have both been for the opening day of today’s movie. My children were also super stoked to be able to see it on the first day of its screening.
I noticed that you both reacted very strongly when you saw that my son was in the ladies’ room, when as you might have guessed by his apparent age, that he should have been in the men’s room. I could tell that you were surprised by your reaction. I am sorry that you were startled, and truly didn’t mean to alarm you. Unfortunately, this theater is old, behind the times and doesn’t have a family assist restroom. My son didn’t want to be there, nor did I anymore than you did.
As you must have also noticed, my son needs assistance and cannot navigate the space, anticipate potential danger and in general be alone with strangers just yet. He’s still growing and developing, it’s just taking him extra time because he’s exceptional.
By your age, I can tell that you too are also both growing and developing, and would like to offer you some motherly advice. When you see someone different from you, try to consider what the circumstances might be before rushing to judgment. You might also want to refrain from laughing and whispering to one another while in front of a person who may be struggling. Sometimes the struggle is apparent, and sometimes it’s not.
I hope that you enjoyed the movie and will think before reacting the next time you see someone different from yourselves. You seem like nice girls and I’m sure you just didn’t know how to respond. Hopefully in time, the world will catch up with special needs children and become a kinder, gentler, more accommodating and inclusive place. In the meantime, just remember the golden rule that you surely learned in kindergarten, which is ‘to treat others as you would like to be treated.’
In the end, being accepted for who we are is what everyone really wants and needs, and what ultimately connects us all together in this on-going journey we call life.
Thank you.
Yours,
Concerned Mother
