Dined out yesterday.
The place was totally full.
We even had to wait for our seats.
One of the staff apologised & told us that they were getting our table ready. She then asked if it was okay to let the two guys behind us be seated first as there was a table for two available.
We spontaneously said yes coz it was a table for two...so why not.
And spontaneously too, the staff & the two guys thanked us for that.
Well, that feeling at that moment...only الله knows.
It really shows how sincerity, courtesy, tolerance & gratitude can do magic.
So that feeling somewhat made the waiting seemed short...ما شاء الله.
Soon after, we were brought in to the restaurant which was brimming with humans, chattering away as they were enjoying their dinner.
Aqil was already fidgety.
We walked over to our table which was really crammed between other tables on both sides.
Upon seated, Aqil pointed to the food on the table next to us & started being fidgety again.
This of course attracted the attention of that table diners.
So I placed my handbag next to him to block his view.
And when our food was served, he fidgeted again.
We were anxious for a bit but this boy just turned himself around & crouched in his seat...without much noise.
There was YouTube,of course, to occupy him.
So we had our dinner while having to remind him every now & then to mind his legs coz as he got excited & started stimming, he might accidentally kick the person at the next table.
Which he didn’t...fortunately...phew!
Being parents of a child with special needs, it is definitely more challenging especially to bring the child out in public.
But we believe it is better than to keep the child at home most of the time.
The world...we need to know there are those with special needs around us.
Different types of special needs.
Different range of special needs.
We definitely cannot do things on our own.
We need help.
We need understanding.
And we need our special needs children to be as independent as they can be.
To know that they are the same as others.
With Aqil, we always refer to Ariq & Arisya as comparison.
Whenever Aqil refuses to go to school or madrasah, we tell him “Abang & Kakak go to sch so Aqil has to go to school too....Abang & Kakak go to madrasah so Aqil has to go to madrasah too.”
When we dine out, Aqil knows that we eat at other places apart from Bagus, Evertop & Supper Club.
It used to be frequent reminders but now he knows.
He knows we have to eat & he may not like what we are eating but he has to tolerate.
We waited for him while he was eating.
So he too has to wait for us while we are eating.
Many people has said that “Hey...Aqil looks okay.”
“Aqil can have eye contact”
“Aqil can speak very well”
Intervention.
Early intervention.
Continuous intervention.
And belief...بإذن الله.
Aqil started school at 4yrs old for nursery.
Same as Ariq & Arisya.
But not mainstream.
We know he needs more than what mainstream can give him.
And he has improved so so much.
Lesser & lesser stimmings.
Lesser & lesser meltdowns.
Not totally gone but lesser.
And that’s what we want for him.
To be behaving as much the same as others around him.
To have survival & social skills.
As much as the world need to know the existence of people with special needs...people with special needs to need to know the world they are living in too.
