Side show freak

Last night after Parker's physical therapy, Matthew and I decided to stop for a quick dinner/date on the way home. My mother was watching Aidan and Emma, and since it was a rare treat to have Matthew at PT with me, I thought it a good idea to take advantage of the situation and be spontaneous. However, once we walked into the restaurant, I immediately wished we had gone straight home. Every eye in our proximity was on Parker and his helmet. There were whispers, exchanged looks between patrons, and long, constant stares. Now, I know kids wearing helmets isn't the "norm," but I also didn't think it was so uncommon that people stopped eating their dinners to follow you with their eyes. There was a family across the way from us, a father, son, and a set of grandparents, that made Parker, his helmet, and why he wears it, their dinner conversation. They didn't try and be quiet, in fact, they seemed be trying to be heard. Their conclusion as to why my son was wearing "the apparatus" was because he suffered from shaken baby syndrome and was brain damaged...it was right about then, that I asked for the check, and we promptly left. If I hadn't been so astonished at the gaul of these perfect strangers, and in such shock at their assumption of abuse on our part, I would have marched right over there and given them a piece of my mind. I think Matthew knew what I was thinking, because as we were getting ready to leave, he made sure he had a good hold of me as we made our way out. My impromptu dinner date didn't turn out to be as fun as I thought it would be. I am so glad that Parker had no idea what was going on, and was just his happy, laughing self the whole time.