I feel I have one more thing to say before this thread moves on or stops altogether. Its really addressed to those who think I have a lack of empathy or for whom this thread is making them weep.
I don’t go to a park and expect children to be sitting quietly reading a book. I don’t go to a swimming pool and expect children to be swimmingly rigidly in lanes. I expect children to act like children – shouting, running around, whatever. If I see a child having a meltdown, or behaving in a way that suggests they may be neurodivergent, I don’t “tut” and I don’t suggest they are given a lolly. I resent the implications that people who share the ideas I’m about to write about are thoughtless “tutters”.
When I go to a place that is not intended for running around and shouting, I don’t expect to experience any running around and shouting to such an extent that it spoils it for me. If you are looking after a child or two that cannot behave in a "typical" way in those places, I won’t be standing around tutting. But similarly, if you are taking 10 or so children to a public place where other people, children and adults, have made an effort to get there and experience it in a quiet and adult way, I expect you to think of the consequences. If all the children are neurodivergent and likely to be loud and uncontrolled, then I’m sorry if this is seen as wrong, but by taking a large group to a relatively small venue you are placing unfair responsibilities on other people. Or, if your 10 children are “just” badly behaved, then you are not showing any respect or consideration for other visitors.
Its grossly unfair to blame people who are trying to have a normal day out for not being sufficiently understanding.
