Caught Up In Crazy

I very innocently planned a grocery trip today to Aldi.  I often go to Aldi on Friday mornings.  Not a big deal…so I thought.

Also, not a big deal to take Aaron with me…so I thought.

I wasn’t surprised that the parking lot was rather full.  I WAS surprised when Aaron and I headed for the carts to hear a woman call out to me, telling me that Aldi wasn’t opening until 12:00.  Somehow, I missed that memo.

Thankfully, Aaron and I only had to sit in the van for less than 10 minutes.  Out we hopped, again, grabbed our cart and had to walk to the back of a long line.  Never…not Thanksgiving…not Christmas…not pre-blizzard…have I seen a line waiting to get into Aldi.

The lady behind me mentioned that this was crazy.  Yes, it was crazy.  So was the line all the way up the first aisle headed for the produce, and the line waiting for eggs, and another for dairy products.  All through the store, in nearly every aisle, we were bumper to bumper carts and shoppers.

So much for social distancing.

I saw some things.

I saw concerned faces.

I saw tired children.

I saw long lists in shopper’s hands.

I saw smiles, too.

I saw kindness from many of the harried people there.

I saw a very elderly and frail woman with beautiful white hair sitting on the counter where her caregiver packed their groceries…and she was sound asleep, her head bowed, seemingly oblivious to the noise around her.

And I saw Aaron as we stood in the check-out line, his arms hanging down and his hands folded together while he stared down at the end cap display beside us.

He was somber and quiet, very uncharacteristic of him when shopping.  Usually he rubs his hands together happily as he stands in line talking about a game or a movie or what he wants to eat for supper or any number of other things.  Usually I must remind him to talk softly.

But not today.

Today, Aaron saw and felt the crazy all around him.  I was calm all through the store, talking to him and to others, trying to maintain a sense of normal.

That’s because I know how necessary normal is to Aaron.

But today was anything BUT normal, and Aaron was not to be fooled.

I’ve written about how Aaron is very tired of this Coronavirus…how done he is with store closings and restaurant closings and crowds and shortages.

I really didn’t expect Aldi to be part of the crazy today.  I didn’t expect our trip there to add to Aaron’s angst.

Yet there we were, sucked into the crazy while not wanting to contribute to it.  I was just there to get normal groceries.  But the crowds…the lines…the empty shelves…the waiting…the jostling – all made Aaron most unsettled.

“Mom,” he said.  “You’re just here because of the crazy Coronavirus!”

I tried to assure him that I was there because of needing normal groceries.  But Aaron wasn’t buying it.

All through the store…thankfully in a quiet voice…Aaron told me over and over that I was a part of this crazy because of the Coronavirus.

“You’re just buying that because of Coronavirus,” he muttered as I bent over the sandwich meat.

“You just want that because of the Coronavirus,” he said again as I added coffee to the cart.

Seeing him in the check-out line, so still and serious, made me very sad.  All the times I’ve wanted him to be quiet and now he was…but for a reason that yanked at my heart.  He was most uncomfortable…most uneasy…most worried.

This whole scenario of our current lives is new to me…new to all of us.  Watching Aaron’s manner and seeing his worried face was a real insight into how this strange time is new to him as well and is affecting him.

Normal is gone for now, and for who knows how long.  So, for many of us with special children…children who respond strongly to their environments…this may be an extra stressful time.

Let’s encourage each other and pray for one another.

And if you’re out and about in the crazy, and you see a mom with a special-needs child, give her an extra big smile, would you?

 

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Author: Patty hesaidwhatks

I'm Patty and I write about our adult son who has Epilepsy and Autism, who still lives with my husband and me, and who is a package full of many surprises and joys and challenges and TALK! Lots of talking, which creates laughter and some other reactions as well. I also write about how God shows Himself to me in everyday life.

28 thoughts on “Caught Up In Crazy”

  2. It’s very nice that you were able to notice some good out there, too 🙂 Sometimes the negative stands out and that’s all we (think we) see. God bless during this time, stay safe!

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  3. I speak God’s blessing of peace that transcends understanding to you, Aaron, and all who need a gentle touch from the Father who loves us. Aaron’s words about you doing what you were doing; “just because of the corona virus” is a good reminder to us all that Jehovah is our provider. May we continue to walk in His love and peace for the world around us. Patty, God bless you guys as you remain a light in the darkness.

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      1. My grandma broke her hip 2 days ago so my mom has been with her at the hospital since…we have Jeffrey at our house, had a tiff at the start of our morning today so we could use some prayers for tender heartedness toward one another!!

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      2. Oh no! I’m so sorry about your Grandma! This is such an extra hard time for that to happen. I’m sure having Jeffrey there is tough for him and for you guys. You have a special kind of crazy right now. Please let me know how I can pray for you and your family, Alicia. Oh, I did want to say that Aaron is showing signs of stress in all this by being very bossy. 😜 It gets tiring. Hugs and prayers for you!

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      3. This afternoon the hospital has said no visitors so my grandma can’t have company anymore..Jeffrey is back with my mom now so that may settle his attitude…
        We’ll just pray peace for one another!
        Hoping Aaron can relax and rest well tonight also!❤️🙏

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      5. I’m just going to call her a lot..it’s sad, and the hospital they transferred her to and did the surgery is an hour away…very disappointing! We’re not sure yet when they’ll transfer her back to the hospital here in town either.

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  9. Smiles. Him constantly making this statement “You are getting this…because of coronavirus…” made me smile. The season we are in is really bringing a lot of crazy and all the cautions can be a lot. But I believe it will all pass.

    Be safe and be good ma’am. ❤

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  10. This was touching Patty. This whole thing is crazy. I pray normal does return soon. I will remember what you said if I see a mother with a special needs child. ❤️

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