After the kids got out of school, I got them packed up to go visit my Mom in the hospital. Since I was going to be up in Ogden, I decided to stop by the Scout Store to pick up Rhett's patches, tape, and belt loops. While we were there, an autistic boy, about 18 yrs old, was there and pretty loud. I tried to keep my distance because he seemed pretty agitated. While I was checking out, and signing my credit card slip, Kenna was standing next to me. Before I knew it, she started to scream and cry and hyperventilate. The autistic boy had grabbed a hold of her hair and wouldn't let go. I didn't know what to do...I just stood there. I knew he was autistic, so I didn't want to try to grab him or hit him...not only because I wasn't sure what he would do, but I didn't want his parents to freak out by me hitting him. His brother kept hitting his hands, trying to get him to let go but he wouldn't. It seriously felt like forever but he finally let go...after he ripped out her hair, root and all.
The Mom was astonished, and immediately had the brother take him outside.
I just sat there stunned with a shocked and traumatized Kenna. She just sat on my lap crying over and over, "That mean boy. He messed up my hair. I want it back..."
I felt sick...how do you let someone just hurt your child and feel powerless against it? I felt like such a failure of a mother. I decided I needed to leave and get to the hospital...around family.
We got to my Mom's room and shared our sad incident with them and Amos and Kyle. Luckily, it made Kenna feel better to get loves form Grandma and Grandpa. And even better news, was finding out the surgery went well, the Dr. predicted 99% non-cancerous, and Mom looked soo good. We sat in her room and talked a little bit until J came by to take the kids home.
Then we went downstairs and joined Dad for dinner in the Hospital Cafeteria. And man, it was some really yummy food. It felt so good having us all at the table, eating together, and enjoying each other's company. After dinner, J took the kids home, and I went back to visit with my Mom and Dad and Dawn. We stayed until about 10pm, and then decided we ought to get home, especially because Mom had fallen asleep.
As I tried to sleep last night, I just couldn't. I kept re-playing what happened to Kenna. And I felt like a fool for not staying and filing a report. I know the boy didn't mean to, but I kept thinking there should be a report in case he does it again. That way, it's on record for the future.
When I woke up, after a sleepless night, I decided I had to call the manager and file a report. He said right after I left, he had arrived to take my statement but I had already left. They tried finding me by my credit slip, but to no avail they didn't. He was so happy I called and wanted to straighten it out. He even said the Mom was just devastated and had collapsed crying because she felt so bad. The manager had said he has seen autistic boys come in the store before wearing mitts or gloves. I'm thinking this must be a side effect they don't have control of, so he was going to pass that tip onto the Mom. I typed up my statement, and I'll take it in next week. It gives me a lot of peace that I was able to stand up for my daughter in some way. But I just hope her hair grows back quickly and that it won't affect Kenna for too long. All day today whenever I tried to brush her hair, she was too traumatized to let me. She just cries and says, "Owie hair..."
Poor girl, but a strong girl. I love my Kenna!
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