Bless You

We had just finished our ice cream and had wandered around the shops to the fountain.  I had Jack and Ja.son with me.

They splashed in the fountain water and asked for coins to throw into the shallow water. I gave them each a penny. There were two plops and some giggles from them as they watched their coins float to the bottom.

"Mom, I wished I can live forever," Ja.son said, "but I need another coin for a second wish."

"What do you want to wish for this time," I asked as I handed him my last penny.

"I want to wish that I never get this full again. I am stuffed!" he laughed as he tossed his coin.

After a few minutes, we started back to the table where Sh.awn and Is.aac were sitting. Both were still finishing the last of their ice cream while we were gone.

We had only made it a few feet when I heard someone say, "Bless  you, ma'am." There really wasn't any other "ma'ams" around so I assumed they were meant for me. I looked for the source of the words.

They came from a young man in what I would guess was his early twenties. He had just following an older man out of one of the shops and was walking right behind us.

"Excuse me?" I replied, still uncertain why he said anything at all.

"Bless you," the young man said again. "I know it's hard taking care of someone with a disability." He pointed at his companion. With this second glance I could see the older man was slightly hunched at the shoulders; his facial features suggested that there was also some genetic condition at play.

We walked a few more steps while I took it all in. I gently prompted Jay to walk a bit faster while I picked up Jack.

"May I ask what's wrong with him?" the young man said, obviously oblivious that both my boys could hear and understand everything he said.

My mind raced through many responses, most of which were not very kind. My momma bear instincts were in full force. He's talking about Ja.son. How dare he suggest something was wrong? He walks with a walker, who cares? Besides, it's very possible he is involved with some sort of disability himself. He should KNOW this kind of conversation is off putting and downright rude. I was angry and I wanted nothing more than to walk away.

But I knew there were little ears listening--ears that miss nothing, that internalize everything. How I responded was important. Yet again, I was woefully unprepared for dealing with this kind of situation.

"Nothing is wrong with him," I finally said. "He was born very early and now has cerebral palsy because he was so sick at birth. He's one of my miracles, and I am very proud of him. Right, Jay?"

"Right." Ja.son replied.

I looked over at the young man. He smiled. "You are very blessed," he said as he walked away.

"I know I am," I said to myself as we walked back to our table.