I hate going to the shops or the park or out in public because I hate the stares and the comments from those who know best how to raise my son. People who have the gall to comment or pass judgment on my parenting skills and my son’s behavior,

The problem is my son isn’t just a little naughty boy, and those with kids who have Bipolar, ODD, ADHD, Conduct disorder  just to name a few know exactly what I mean.  My son doesn’t just “act up” at the shops…He really has a hard time dealing with the noise, the lights, and the crowds. I can’t and shouldn't have to punish him for a behavior he has no control over. And even if i decided to discipline him, any discipline I do use will have no real affect on my boy. I do use time out where I send him to his room but its (In truth) so I can have a break. He still is out of control while in there so what has he learned ? And what I find is frustrating most of the time timeouts will only make things escalate further …

There IS a BIG difference between a tantrum and a mental illness…. And I get so frustrated with people telling my child to behave more like his sister… … this doesn’t help… At the bank the other day my son was being his usual self and he started to play with the bank divider for the queue… An older man told him to stop it and my son burst in to tears and had to be calmed. I also got stared at both at the bus stop and then on the bus when he started to get anxious and was noisy and loud...

Today i took him to the local takeaway for 5 mins to get dinner and he started to throw himself into their glass...I got him under control only to have one of the customers walk out shaking his head at me like i was the one in the wrong.....Its hard enough to deal with my special child without having to feel like we are a science experiment gone wrong…I often say my son should wear a sign that says I am special or the like so that people would be more understanding (as if this would work though)…

So, o.k you say, whats your point with this article? If you have ever looked a mum or dad who is having a bad day I hope this opens your eyes and you will be more sympathetic next time. Trust me when I tell you I am NOT ignoring His behavior and I am not a horrible parent.