Parenting is a tough, if not the toughest job there is. No doubt.
When my daughter began pre-kindergarten, all was normal – for a short time. And what seemed like over night, my daughter began crying hysterically from the moment she woke up terrified to go to school. I talked to her teachers and in the end I summed it up to social anxiety.
By her own choosing, she asked to take ballet classes. Within a week or two, school mornings of tears began to diminish on their own. However, another behavior was replaced – my daughter began humming.
It’s been a year and a half and my daughter still produces a constant, monotone humming when concentrating. And apparently, this stirs annoyances.
We were in the waiting room of a car dealership while my daughter was practicing her letters when we were approached by a lady in a passive-aggressive tone, ”Is that your daughter making that noise? If you can have her be quiet, that would be great!”
Defensively I said, “You are ignorant and uneducated! How do you know if a child has a disorder or anxiety that causes them to make such an innocent sound? How dare you say that about my daughter!” The lady looked up from her cell phone and apologized. Once outside tears relentlessly rolled down my face.
Little did she know that her words did sting as I was not only defending my daughter but I was also defending my son diagnosed on the autism spectrum - What would she have said about my son?
Her humming is far from bothersome to me but there are others who have no tolerance for the very reasons that make my heart smile as a parent. The beauties of children that give soul to a world that can many times feel less than compassionate. As a parent, we always have a voice - my child is a blessing and I relish every moment she has to be exactly who she is which includes her innocent humming.
Stockton, CA
