The Stares we Face: Part 3 - The Misjudgment

Picture this: You’re in a supermarket, and a child is having a full-blown meltdown. They’re screaming, hitting themselves, maybe even knocking things over. The parent looks exhausted, helpless.

And then it happens—the judgment. The whispers, the shaking heads, the side-eye glances that say: “That child just needs discipline.” “If that were my kid, I’d handle it differently.”

But would you?

Because what most people don’t see is the full picture. That child might be experiencing sensory overload—bright lights, loud noises, unfamiliar smells all crashing down at once. That meltdown isn’t a tantrum; it’s a survival response.

And that parent? They are doing everything they can.

Judgment doesn’t help. Understanding does. Instead of assuming, try a different thought:

🔹 “I wonder what they’re going through.”
🔹 “How can I help make this space more inclusive?”
🔹 “Maybe they don’t need my judgment—just my kindness.”

Next time you see a struggling parent, swap judgment for empathy. You never know how much it might mean to them.

Have you ever caught yourself making an assumption, only to later realize you misunderstood? Let’s normalize learning, not judging.

#WorldAutismAwarenessDay #EndTheJudgment #DifferentNotLess #ParentingWithEmpathy