Going out to eat with the family is never a simple task—especially when you have a child with autism.
Jamie Heustess knows the struggle all too well.
Jamie Matthews Heustess
Her son, Ian, has autism, and after a long day of socially-stimulating activities, their meal at Cracker Barrel left this mama nearing the end of her rope. But it was the kindness of a stranger that took Jamie’s stressful situation and turned it into a moment she never wants to forget.
The mother from Georgia shared the experience on Facebook writing, “I had a good cry walking out of our local Cracker Barrel in Pooler, GA.”
She explains the difficulties of eating out with a child who has autism saying, “It is truly hit or miss…most days we do OK.”
Her husband Chris left the restaurant with Ian before their waitress came back to the table and asked if they were ordering.
“This was probably her 5th or 6th time stopping by the table…I said yes, a to-go order, just for me. She asked if my husband or son wanted anything and I said no, my husband took our son home to reduce stimuli around him. I told her Ian was autistic and had had a long day, awards, karate, Wal-Mart… His breaking point was the Nemo/Dory toy-that was neither of those characters.”
Jamie Matthews Heustess
“By this time I was crying and having a moment, not because I was embarrassed that my son is autistic, but because he is a good kid and I didn’t want anyone to think he was just a spoiled kid being a brat.”
Jamie says the waitress was “gracious and sweet,” and told her that she’d get her order taken care of quickly. She waited for about 15 minutes before the server came out with her bag of dinner.