DS 11 has SEN, maybe ASD like my other two but certainly some kind of SEN. Today I took him to our local shop, it was packed obviously. I could see from the way he was acting that a meltdown was coming. Now, he has meltdowns very rarely actually so it was pretty unexpected. He didn't want to go down any aisle where there were people so I was trying to get him and DD7 (also ASD) out the door. We had to walk past a group of people which totally overwhelmed DS and he swore twice. Immediately a man appeared from behind him, pushed him (I didn't know this till much later) and SCREAMED right in his face. He was squaring up to DS and shouting "there's kids in here, shut your foul mouth." DS immediately shut up and everyone was looking. To my shame I also lost the power of speech. I know I should have stood up for DS but I was just so shocked that I put my stuff down and left. I didn't know that he had pushed DS or I would have been really angry.
I just feel like such a shit parent. DS is 11 but 5ft 8 and has a beard already. He maybe looks 15 or 16. I guess he thought he was doing me a favour by shouting at my unruly "teenager". DS shouldn't be swearing of course in front of everybody else, they shouldn't have to put up with it but he was having a meltdown and an adult pushed him. We've been home an hour and he hasn't spoken since. I feel so sorry for him. Bloody "helpful" bystanders.