Instantaneous McDonald’s support group

One day during my kids’ spring break, my daughter and I went to Meadowbrooke Gourds.  (I’m letting you know this because it is an awesome place and I want all of you to know about it.)On our way home, we stopped at McDonald’s for lunch.

As we were eating I noticed that people were watching this man who was not “normal” and acting a little wierd.

I looked over.  It was a young man who was obviously on the autism spectrum.  He was verbalizing, flapping, pacing… funny, I hadn’t even noticed until I realized that other people were staring.

Funny what I get used to, I guess.

I said something to my daughter, and she looked over.  We agreed that the man had autism.  I started watching him, not out of “rudeness” but out of concern.  I suppose my mom instincts kicked in.

A woman in line called to the man and instructed him not to beat on his chest.  He stopped.  I knew he was not alone, so my daughter and I went back to our lunch.

As we were leaving the restaurant, I stopped by the man’s table.  Turned out he was  22 and was out with his grandmother.  I explained to his grandmother that I had been watching him out of concern due to my being a mom of two boys on the spectrum.

She gave me a big hug.  She said, “We all have to stick together!”  We talked for a few minutes until the man decided to walk out of the McDonald’s on his own (typical… for us, at least!).   She ran after him and my daughter and I went out to our van.

We were buckling our seatbelts and I heard a honk.  As the grandmother was driving away, she had looked for me and honked in support when she saw my autism awareness sticker.  I waved and noticed that she had a sticker, too.

I really hope I see her again.  Our walk for autism is coming up on April 14th.  Since she’s in the area, maybe she’ll be there.

I was grateful for our encounter.  I have hope, because the young man reminded me of my own son.  May we all experience love and support in the unlikeliest places.