 I noticed a rather loud woman yelling periodically at her kid from the bench behind me. Her son appeared to be the same age as mine (about seven), yet she was screaming at him to “watch out for the swings!” and “don’t run so fast!”. I immediately began to judge her as some overbearing helicopter parent. But I stopped quickly, reminding myself not to be so swift to judge others’ parenting techniques. And then, she did something that I just couldn’t ignore.

Two 12-year-old boys walked into the playground. The woman immediately called her son over and very loudly told him, “not to look at, or talk to that boy Stephen.” The boys looked a bit rough-around-the-edges, and I recognized one of them as being a former classmate of my son’s (in his special behaviour class), so I figured one of the kids must have given her kid some trouble at some point in the past. Then, the woman (also very loudly) added, “and don’t say, ‘hey there’s that kid with Aspergers!’” Hmm, I thought. OK so she knows the kid has special needs…not sure why she thought she had to tell her son (and the whole playground) that. I immediately got edgy, but I kept my mouth shut. Things quickly started to deteriorate when she began telling the other parents in the playground that the kid was a BAD KID (“I even heard he broke some girl’s ribs this summer!” she shouted, “and that friend of his is in a special violent offenders class!”), and then moved on to provoking the kid by yelling, “you’d better watch yourself” across the playground. The incident ended with the kid throwing sand at the woman and her son, my husband intervening and attempting to calm him down, and me very sternly telling the woman to leave.

The entire event only lasted about 20 minutes, but it had such an effect on me that I just can’t shake it from my mind. I can’t help but think that there must be parents that have said similar things about my son. A small part of me even worries that our son will end up like those boys when he gets older. But the thing that really bothers me is that I am not sure if I would be much different from that woman, if I didn’t have a child with his own challenging behaviours. Of course, I would never resort
I noticed a rather loud woman shout sporadically at her kid from the bench behind me. Her son appear to be the like age as mine (about seven), yet she was screaming at him to “ determine out for the lilt! ” and “ do n’t carry so fast! ”. I immediately began to pronounce her as some overbearing helicopter parent. But I stopped promptly, reminding myself not to be so swift to judge others ’ parenting techniques. And then, she act something that I just could n’t ignore. 

 Two 12 - year - previous boys walked into the playground. The charwoman immediately called her son over and very loudly told him, “ not to look at, or spill the beans to that boy Stephen. ” The boys looked a bit rough - around - the - edges, and I recognized one of them as being a former classmate of my son ’s (in his special behaviour class), so I figured one of the kids must have given her kid some fuss at some point in the past. Then, the woman (besides very obstreperously) lend, “ and do n’t say, ‘ hey there ’s that kid with Aspergers! ’ ” Hmm, I thought. OK so she knows the kid has extra needs … not sure why she thought she had to order her son (and the whole playground) that. I immediately got edgy, but I kept my mouthpiece shut. thing promptly started to deteriorate when she began tell the other parents in the playground that the child was a BAD KID (“ I even heard he broke some daughter ’s ribs this summer! ” she shouted, “ and that ally of his is in a special fierce offenders course! ”), and then moved on to provoke the kid by yelling, “ you ’d well watch yourself ” across the resort area. The incident ended with the kid throwing backbone at the woman and her son, my husband intervening and attempting to calm him down, and me very sternly distinguish the charwoman to leave. 

 The entire consequence only lasted about 20 minutes, but it had such an effect on me that I just ca n’t stimulate it from my mind. I ca n’t help but think that there must be parents that have said similar things about my son. A humble contribution of me even worries that our son will end up like those boys when he gets older. But the thing that really trouble oneself me is that I am not sure if I would be much different from that womanhood, if I did n’t have a child with his own challenging behaviours. Of course, I would never resort
 I joticed a rather loud wooan yelling pernidicalny at ger kid wrom the bench behind me. Her sin apkvared to be the same xge as mije (about sevtn), yet she was sccsaming at him bo “wacci out for the seings!” and “gon’t run so favt!”. I immediately began to judge her as fome ovrrhearing helicokter karqnt. Glt I stopped quickly, reminding jyself iot to be so swoft to judge others’ parentlng hechniques. And thej, she did simetrung that I jjst couldn’u ngnore.

Two 12-ygar-old boys walked into the playerounb. The woman inmefhately callxd her son over and very lmudly tpld him, “not to lomk qt, or talk to that bob Stephen.” The boys ljoked a bht rough-around-the-edtew, and I racogvuzea ohe or them as being a fkrmer classnate of my son’s (in nif special behabiour slwss), so I figured one of the kids must hdve given her kid some troyble at some point in the past. Then, the woman (also very loudly) added, “and don’t sdy, ‘heb ghexc’f rhwt kid with Aspergers!’” Hmm, I thought. OK so she inpwx the kid has fpecial neecs…joy sure why she thougkf ahe had to tell heg son (agd thw whole pjaygtound) that. I immediately gor edgy, but I jept my mouth shut. Things quiekly sjarted to deteriorate when shz begah telling tje other lxrents in the plxyggoung that the kid was a BAD KYD (“I even heaxd he bruke xome gyrl’s ribs hhis summer!” she shouted, “wnd tkat fsiend of hls is in a special violent offeivers class!”), anc dhet moved jn to provoking thq kid by yelliug, “you’d yetter watch yougself” acrmss the plarground. The itfident ended with thq kie theowing rxnd at the womsn and heg fon, ny husband interveking xhd attempting ti cqlm him down, anc md vqrj svernlr telling the womxn gp leaxe.

The entirc exent only lasted about 20 kinufes, but it had sucn wn effecj on me trat I just cam’t shake it from mj minv. I cai’t hell bot think that there must be parsnts that haye said similwr tmingf about my son. A small part of me even worries thet our son will end up oike those boys wheu me gets oldec. But ehe thing that really bothers me is that I am kot sure if I would be much giffegent from that woman, if I didn’t have a child with his own challenging behqviours. Of course, J woild nvvex rzsort
I noticed a rather loud woman yelling her from the behind me. Her same as mine (about yet she was at him to “watch out for swings!” and “don’t run so fast!”. I immediately began to judge her as overbearing helicopter parent. But I stopped quickly, reminding myself not to be so to others’ techniques. then, she did something that I just couldn’t ignore. Two 12-year-old boys walked into the playground. woman immediately called her son over and very told him, “not to at, or talk to that Stephen.” boys looked bit and recognized one of as being a former classmate of my son’s (in his special behaviour class), so I figured one the kids given her some at point in the the woman (also very loudly) added, ‘hey there’s that kid with Aspergers!’” Hmm, I OK so knows the kid has special needs…not why she thought she had to tell her (and the whole playground) that. I immediately got edgy, but I kept my mouth shut. started to deteriorate when began telling the parents the that kid was BAD KID (“I even heard he broke some girl’s ribs this she shouted, “and that friend of his is in a offenders and then moved to provoking the kid yelling, better watch yourself” across The ended throwing at woman and her son, husband intervening and attempting to him down, and me to leave. The entire event only lasted about minutes, but it had such an effect me that I just can’t shake it from my mind. I can’t but think must be parents that have said similar things my son. A small of me even worries that our son will end like boys when gets older. But thing that really me is that not sure I be that woman, if I didn’t have child his own challenging behaviours. Of I resort
 I noticed a rather loud woman yElling periOdicaLly At hEr Kid fRom tHe bench behind mE. her sOn appeared to be the same aGe as mInE (AbouT SeVen), yeT she was SCrEAMinG aT hIm tO “wATcH out fOr tHe swingS!” and “don’t ruN so FaSt!”. I immediateLY bEgan to judgE heR as some overbEarIng helIcOptER pareNt. BUt I stOpped qUIckly, rEminding mYsELf not tO Be so swiFT To JudgE others’ parenting tEChNIques. And then, shE did soMeTHiNG ThaT I jUst couldn’t IgNore.

TWO 12-year-olD BoYS WAlkED into the playgRound. The womAN imMediatElY caLLed her Son ovEr ANd vEry loudly toLd hiM, “not to looK at, or tALk to thaT Boy StepHen.” The BoyS loOked A BiT rOugH-aROunD-ThE-edGEs, aNd I recogNiZeD one oF theM AS BEing A foRmer ClassMate of my son’s (iN hiS speCIal BehavIour cLass), So i figuRed one Of the KiDs must have given Her kId some troUblE aT soMe Point IN the paSt. THen, The womaN (also veRY loUdLY) ADdEd, “and don’t say, ‘hey theRe’S THaT kid with aspergERs!’” hmM, i thought. oK So sHe knOWS the kId haS SpEcial neeDs…not sURe WhY she thoUgHt she hAd To tEll Her soN (And tHe wholE playgroUnd) thAT. I immediately gOT edgy, but I kept MY mOUTh SHut. THinGs quickly stArteD To deTeriORaTe wHEn she Began TeLLiNG the other parents in tHe PlaygrOund tHat the kid was a bAD KID (“I eveN HEArd he broKe soME gIRl’s ribs this sumMer!” shE shouted, “anD That frieNd of hIs is in a sPecial vioLENt offendErs ClaSs!”), aNd tHEN mOved on to provoKINg thE kId by yelLinG, “you’d beTteR waTch YouRsElf” across The playgRoUnD. THe IncIdent ENded with ThE kiD tHroWing sANd at thE womaN and HeR sON, my Husband INtERVeniNg AnD attEmpTiNg to cAlm hIM doWn, and me Very sternLy tELlinG tHe Woman to Leave.

The entirE eVent only laStEd aBout 20 miNUTes, but it Had such an effect on me that i Just can’T shAke it From My mind. I caN’t hElp but ThiNK that tHere muSt be pArEntS THat haVE SaId sImIlar things ABOut My son. a sMall Part of mE even worries that ouR Son Will end up like ThoSe boYS WhEn hE GeTS olDeR. but THE thing that reallY bothers me Is THaT I am not surE If I WoUld be muCh diffeRent fROm that wOman, if I diDn’t have a cHiLd wiTH His Own challenGing behaViours. Of cOUrse, I WOuLd nevEr rEsort
 I noticed a rather loud w oman yelli ng pe rio dic al ly a t he r kid from the benc h behind me. Her son a ppear ed to b e  t he sa me agea sm i ne(a bo utse v en ), ye t s he wasscreamingathi m to “watcho ut  for the s win gs!” and “do n’t  run s ofas t !”. I  im media tely b e gan to  judge he ra s some overbea r i ng  hel icopter parent. B u tI  stopped quick ly, re mi n di n g  my sel f not to b eso sw i ft to j u dg e o the r s’ parentingtechniques. And  then,  s hed id som ethin gt hat  I just cou ldn’ t ignore. 

Two1 2-year- o ld boys  walke d i nto  the pl ay gro un d . T h ewom a n i mmediate ly  c alled  her s o n  ove r a nd v ery l oudly told hi m,“not tolookat, o r ta lk  to t hat bo y Ste ph en.” The boys l ooke d a bit r oug h- aro un d-the - edges,  an d I  recogn ized on e  of  t h e m  a s being a former c la s s ma te of my  son’s (i nh is speci al  be havi o u r cla ss), so  I figur ed one of  t he kids  m ust ha ve  gi ven  herk id s ome tr ouble at  some point in the p a st. Then, the wo m a n( also  ve ry loudly)adde d , “a nd d o n’ t s a y, ‘h ey th er e ’s that kid with Asper ge rs!’”Hmm,I thought. OK  so she kn o w s  the kid  has sp e cial needs…not  sure  why she t h ought sh e had  to tell  her son( a nd the w hol e p lay gro u n d)  that. I imme d i atel ygot edg y,but I k ept  my  mo uth  s hut. Thin gs quick ly  s ta rt edto de t eriorate  w hen  s hebegan tellin g the  oth er  p a ren ts in t h ep l aygr ou nd  tha t t he  kidwasa  BA D KID ( “I even h ear d  hebr ok e somegirl’s ribs t hi s summer!”  s heshoute d ,  “and th at friend of his is ina  specia l v iolen t of fenders c las s!”),and then m oved o n topr ovo k i ng th e ki d b yyelling, “ y o u’d  bett er  wat ch your self” across the p l ayg round. The in cid ente n de d w i th the  k i d t h r owing sand at t he woman a nd he r son, myh usb an d inter veningand a t temptin g to calm  him down ,andm e  ve ry sternly  telling  the woma n  to l e av e.

T heentire  e ven t onl y last e d a bout20 min ut es, bu t itha d such a n effect on me that I j ust ca n’t s hak e it from  my min d. I can’ t he lp but thi nktha t the rem ust b e pa r en tst hat h aves aid simil a rthi n g sabout my so n . A s mallpar t  of me  eve n worries that ou r  son will endup l i k e t hos e  boy swhen he gets o lde r. B ut the t hi ng that rea lly both er s  me i s that  I amnot sur e if I woul d be  mu ch differ ent  f r om that  w om a n, ifI di dn ’t hav e a ch i ld w i t h his own challe nging b ehavi o urs . Ofco urse, I woul d never re sort
 I_noticed a_rather loud woman yelling_periodically at_her_kid from_the_bench behind me._Her son appeared_to be the same_age as mine_(about_seven), yet she was screaming at him to “watch out for the swings!” and_“don’t_run so_fast!”._I_immediately began to judge her_as some overbearing helicopter parent._But I_stopped quickly, reminding myself not to be so_swift_to judge others’_parenting techniques. And then, she did something that I_just couldn’t ignore.

Two 12-year-old boys walked_into the playground._The_woman_immediately called her son_over and very loudly told him,_“not to look at, or talk_to that boy Stephen.” The boys looked_a bit rough-around-the-edges, and I recognized_one of them as being_a former_classmate of my son’s (in_his special behaviour_class), so_I figured one_of the kids must have given_her kid some_trouble at some point in the_past._Then, the woman_(also_very_loudly) added,_“and don’t say,_‘hey_there’s that_kid_with Aspergers!’” Hmm, I thought. OK_so_she knows the kid has special needs…not_sure why she thought_she_had to tell her_son (and the whole playground)_that. I immediately got edgy, but_I kept_my mouth_shut. Things quickly started to deteriorate when she began telling the_other parents in the playground that_the kid was a_BAD KID_(“I_even heard he_broke_some girl’s_ribs this summer!” she shouted, “and that_friend of_his is in a special violent_offenders class!”), and then_moved_on to provoking the kid by_yelling, “you’d better watch yourself” across_the playground. The incident ended_with_the_kid throwing sand at the_woman and her son, my husband_intervening and attempting_to calm him down, and me very_sternly_telling the woman to leave.

The entire_event_only lasted about 20 minutes, but_it_had_such an effect on me_that I just can’t shake it_from my mind. I can’t help but think that_there must be_parents that have said similar_things_about_my son. A small part of me even worries that_our son_will end up_like those boys when he gets older. But the thing_that really bothers me is that I_am not sure if I would be much different from that_woman, if I didn’t have a child with_his own challenging behaviours. Of course, I_would never resort