It happens everywhere we go with Elisabeth. People stare. They stare and stare and stare and stare. I've become very self conscious about it.
Most of the time, I'm pretty creative or bring it to Elisabeth's attention that she has an audience and to be on her best behavior. If she's slurping or sliming, I usually tell her that's not going to go over big with her new friends.
Most people don't know the changes of cloths we go through or the amount of care we put into making our children presentable so they fit in with the rest. I can have Elisabeth ready for a shopping trip and by the time we leave, she's ready for a shirt change, a hair comb, lotion on her hands to work out the rubbery raisin skin, or whatever it takes to make her "presentable. Her sister's are very focused on "the look" that will get Elisabeth the desired attention and "the look" that will disgust people and stop them from coming up to her.
Today while in Target, two girls about about Elisabeth's age just stared. One even looked at her and said, "that's so gross" referring to Elisabeth's preoccupation with her tongue and chew aids. It hurt. It hurt Elisabeth.
At the Limited Too, recently, a group of girls probably younger than Elisabeth reacted the same way using the "R" word and laughed. Fortunately, her younger sister was trying on clothes while this was happening.
I guess I'm writing this because I want people to know it's okay to come up to us and say hello or even help me distract Elisabeth from being so fixated on her hand, fingers, cloths or hair. If you're with your children, remember children learn from example. They'll do or say what you, the adult, will do or say.
In this situation, it's okay to say "hello." If your kids ask "what wrong with her" tell them you don't know.
Should it matter?
You would be surprised how easy it is to get a smile from our kids. When people say "hello" she usually stops she's doing long enough to wave or smile.
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