GIVE THE CHILD TO ME
The Hidden Fears of a Mother Raising a Special Child
We had gone for a simple temple visit. After darshan, we stopped at a small hotel for breakfast. I travel everywhere with my daughter.
My daughter has special needs.
As we were leaving, a woman from the staff looked at my child and said abruptly:
“Give the child to me and leave.”
There was no smile. No explanation.
In that moment, I froze. Then instinct took over. I pulled my daughter close and walked away.
Later, one question stayed with me:
How safe are our special children?
The Silent Fear
All parents worry about safety. But when you raise a child with special needs, the fear runs deeper.
Will she recognize danger?
Will she be able to ask for help?
Will others take advantage of her innocence?
Children with developmental disabilities may process social cues differently. That vulnerability is not weakness — it is a responsibility society must understand.
Between Protection and Freedom
We cannot hide our children from the world.
They deserve temples, restaurants, travel, joy, and dignity.
Yet we live with constant alertness — watching, scanning, protecting.
Was that woman dangerous? I may never know.
But the incident reminded me that awareness is not paranoia. It is protection.
What We Need
We need empathy.
We need public awareness about neurodiversity.
We need communities that speak up.
Children with special needs are not burdens or curiosities.
They are children — deserving equal safety and respect.
To every parent who has frozen in fear:
You are not weak. You are protective.
Do not let fear shrink your child’s world.
I am not raising a fragile child.
I am raising a child who deserves a better world — and until that world learns better, I will walk beside her.