How do you deal wih your child's behaviour while out?

[yukoncher]

My 4yo son has been known to scream, freak out, do other various things in response to strangers saying hello to him.
Yesterday we were in a posh little shoe shop and the lady who worked there said hello to my son and how are you etc and I held my breath as usual. DS reacted my growling 'no' and then staring at her right in the eye and spitting on the carpet. I've never even seen him spit before. So I said 'no, that's naughty' and then told her I'm so sorry, um, do you have some tissue, then had to pass the tissue back to her with god all in it. A bit embarrasing!

How does anyone deal with this stuff while out?

Pain - my responses are 'backwards'. Tiny cuts hurt like heck. Major injuries I don't notice. Weird, isn't it.
I was absolutely utterly hopeless at sport unless I practised for year after year to become vaguely average. Still can't swim more than short distance despite many many years of effort, fall off bikes, can't throw a ball. But I'm also dyspraxic so that's a lot of it. Doesn't bother me though as I enjoy watching sport and ds is a sports whizz.

Yup. The myth is that we're all introverts who hate socialising and sport. Nope. We're just not very good at getting it right

Amber, your posts are like an amazing window on DS' mind. If you had the time and wanted to (and are well enough) I reckon a Mumsnet branded book of your insights would sell like hotcakes - I've been desperate for something that gives me a clue to what DS is reacting to when he lashes out as he can't explain it to us yet, and so many of your posts seem to relate to situations we have experienced with him. Just a thought, of course, I'm sure it's not as simple to do as it sounds! Anyway, I just wanted to say a big thank you and please keep posting when you can!

DS is extrovert very loud and chatty (but noise sensitive)but totally useless at socialising with peers and facial recognition wether feelings or who people actually are and putting a name to a face and hes oblivious to pain often pulls his own nails out (ouchies) but says it doesnt hurt and isnt sore he hates the sight of blood though and thinks even with a graze people are going to die from loss of a tiny amount of blood ,he loves sport but is very bad at it which impacts on his wanting to join in as hes not good with rules of games and turn taking and then feels hes a failed (he has very low seld esteem) still cant swim after umpteen courses and still goes weekly but swallows half the pool lol and still after 8 years trying cant ride a bike, his co-ordination means he finds staying on his scooter hard enough.he still lashes out and at 11 cant explain why he still doesnt understand no amount of books and chats explain why he thinks himself to be freaky i keep trying to tell him hes special and has super power abilities like extra sensitive hearing wow like a super hero in the hope eventually he will begin to think actually he has a lot going for him and being him is wonderful and as special as the next kid were all different were all special (not just to our mums) he thinks im saing this just cos im his mum "its your job to say that" he says