People who stare

[Anonymous]

Blah. Just a vent. Took my kids to a restaurant for lunch. One of my kids, he's 10, flaps his hands constantly at his head; he can't help it. At least 3 grown ups at different tables are staring. I'm merely venting. I've becoming SO much stronger, not much gets to me. But every now and again I am aghast at grown ups who should know better. And the lady who stared and then tried continually to get my eyes and give me sympathy look. Arghh! I wanted to fling my food! Just wanted to enjoy our lunch, focus on each other but blah. Okay I'm done.

[Anonymous]

I'm so sorry. I promise that I will try to educate my children not to stare. I promise that I will teach them that there are all sorts of people out there who behave in different ways for different reasons. I will do my best to make sure they don't grow up to be starers.

[Anonymous]

Op : that's such a nice post; thank you.

[Anonymous]

Hugs OP!!

[Anonymous]

The "smile, don't stare" campaign is a good place to start. You can get a button and bumper sticker at Lollipop Kids and there is an educational video at YouTube.

[Anonymous]

My ASD kid flaps too. We get stares too. I mostly ignore it but it can get annoying. My niece also has ASD and used to flap. She grew out of it, or changed bc of peer pressure (not sure which). But I have heard that flapping can diminish or stop altogether.

[Anonymous]

EF Them OP. And hugs to you and your family - especially your son.

[Anonymous]

Ignorant-Adult-Staring-Behavior-Disorder is a disability. People suffering from IASBD are often clueless about their surroundings and are prone to annoying the [bleep] out of others.

Some symptoms of IASBD can be treated with drugs such as "Vodka Martini-Thrown-In the Face." If staring continues after cocktail administration, or if you experience increasing irritation from attempted eye contact, administer an emergency B-tch slap.

The CDC warns that anyone who is, or might be, or has ever thought about being pregnant or becoming a parent through any means currently scientifically possible, should avoid being exposed to caretakers, neighbors, or babysitters that show signs of IASBD.

If you or someone you know might be suffering from IASBD, ask your doctor for a prescription to a spa treatment, or babysitting, or takeout from the local Chipotle.

But seriously, without flapping or signaling of some kind, how would the rest of the world know what great minds are seeing?

All we can do is to try to pay attention.

[Anonymous]

1. Sometimes I stare for a few seconds because my kid is staring and asking what's wrong with your kid and I'm figuring it out from watching before I quietly tell her (along with telling her not to stare).

2. Sometimes I stare if I'm stuck physically close (like in line, or next restaurant booth over) and worried I'll get hit if I don't keep an eye out, but I generally try to use peripheral vision for that so I'm NOT staring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. Sometimes I stare for a few seconds because my kid is staring and asking what's wrong with your kid and I'm figuring it out from watching before I quietly tell her (along with telling her not to stare).

2. Sometimes I stare if I'm stuck physically close (like in line, or next restaurant booth over) and worried I'll get hit if I don't keep an eye out, but I generally try to use peripheral vision for that so I'm NOT staring.

You can't "figure out what's wrong" with someone from a few seconds of watching, and trying to explain someone else in that manner to your child is pretty offensive. Please stop staring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ignorant-Adult-Staring-Behavior-Disorder is a disability.

Associating the word "disability" with asshole behavior isn't cool.

[Anonymous]

The slightest "difference" will get people staring in this area. It's a form of passive aggressive behavior. DC is the ultimate passive aggressive town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Sometimes I stare for a few seconds because my kid is staring and asking what's wrong with your kid and I'm figuring it out from watching before I quietly tell her (along with telling her not to stare).

2. Sometimes I stare if I'm stuck physically close (like in line, or next restaurant booth over) and worried I'll get hit if I don't keep an eye out, but I generally try to use peripheral vision for that so I'm NOT staring.

You can't "figure out what's wrong" with someone from a few seconds of watching, and trying to explain someone else in that manner to your child is pretty offensive. Please stop staring.

Sure you can - you can see if it's muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Sometimes I stare for a few seconds because my kid is staring and asking what's wrong with your kid and I'm figuring it out from watching before I quietly tell her (along with telling her not to stare).

2. Sometimes I stare if I'm stuck physically close (like in line, or next restaurant booth over) and worried I'll get hit if I don't keep an eye out, but I generally try to use peripheral vision for that so I'm NOT staring.

You can't "figure out what's wrong" with someone from a few seconds of watching, and trying to explain someone else in that manner to your child is pretty offensive. Please stop staring.

+1. This is appalling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

But seriously, without flapping or signaling of some kind, how would the rest of the world know what great minds are seeing?

All we can do is to try to pay attention.

Love this. Thanks.