Usually I can just brush it off, but I'm going through a particularly difficult phase with my anxiety at the moment and I'll admit there are times when it really disheartens me.
My youngest child has Down's.
Days out can be a challenge (I'm a single mum).
My child also has mobility problems so uses a wheelchair.
He just sits there minding his own business, happily taking in his surroundings, not bothering anyone.
Most people are lovely. Some will even stop to say Hello to him, which makes my day as well as his.
In every day out though, no matter where we go, there is always one child or a group of siblings (obviously different kids on every outing, but always one) who just come to a complete standstill. They literally freeze and stare and stare and stare at my son. They will stay routed to the spot not taking their eyes off him until we have walked past.
My son is blissfully unaware of it, but there are days when I go home feeling so deflated.
It's so hard as we (myself and his siblings) just see him for who he is - an individual.
It's not always pre schoolers either. The ones who stopped to stare today were at least 7/8 year olds.
Even before I had my youngest child, I would always educate my older children about children with Down's Syndrome, so that they were aware and knew it was rude and disrespectful to stare.
The parents have a gawp themselves, and then carry on chatting to each other, leaving the kids behind still staring.
I would have hoped with more awareness in the media of children and adults with Down's, that things would have changed for the better and that people would be more accepting, but sadly I am reminded each time we venture out that there is still a lot of ignorance in the world.