I would just like to let you know I heard your comments...the ones you made to your friend. I actually heard hers too. I heard the comment you made to the stranger next to you...you know the one you made that said "Don't they make muzzles for people? Is that a thing?" I got the memo when you turned up your music and held it to your ear (before you put in the headphones.) I also saw you dare your wife to say something to the parents of the crying child. I seen you make fun of my child. I seen it, I felt it, and it took all the Jesus in me not to tell you right then.
See you don't know this, but that little guy you were laughing at has had to overcome more in his four years than you probably have your whole life. I say that with confidence because if you had...you would've gate checked your nasty comments with your carry on.
You do not know why that baby you made fun of was crying. You didn't know MY son was born to another woman. You didn't know he was born deaf and neglected his first three years of life. You didn't know that he has only been hearing for a year. You didn't know how hard we have had to fight to earn his love and trust. You didn't know he was special.
The only thing that kept my mouth shut and from punching you in the nose was my son. My special needs son. (And a whole lotta Jesus.)
Being a parent to a special needs child is hard and exhausting. Some days, well most days, I utter the words "I can't do this." I wake up thinking about the difficulties we may face. I go to sleep wondering what I could've done differently that day.
I'm tired and worn out, but at the end of the day, I'd chose him 100 times again. I would chose the long days and even longer nights. He's worth every sleepless night, every mean stare, and definitely worth your rude comments.
I wish I could tell you all the thoughts that ran through my head sitting behind you. I thought about one day when you had children. I thought about what if you had a special needs child, how that might would change you.
The tantrum he threw in the back of the plane, the one you made fun of, wasn't his fault. He does many things that aren't his fault.
But you? Your comments, attitude, and behavior have no excuse. You are a grown man who made fun of a child. An adult who made fun of a boy with special needs. You have no excuse.
