As a special needs parent, we all have a "short list"... of the restaurants we can go to and enjoy a meal. This is not to say that I've ever seen a food establishment have a "No Special Needs Children Allowed" sign, but they might as well from the things we've endured. This story is not about those restaurants, it's about one more restaurant that every special needs parent should add to their short list.
Braeden is a 7 year old boy on the autism spectrum, Perry is a 14inch plush Platypus.Together they're best friends. Braeden, Perry, and myself were out to brunch in Media, Pa, to a familiar but new restaurant in town, Bittersweet Kitchen. Braeden ordered chocolate chip pancakes and bacon, and began to place Perry's order when I stopped him and laughed to the waitress. Shortly after the food came, the waitress came back with a special order for Perry too.
I sat there and watched the smile spread across Braeden's face, as I held back tears. I thanked her and the owner for their kindness and left. Sitting at home later that night after Braeden & Perry were fast asleep, I couldn't help but feel completely overwhelmed with emotions. I thought to myself, the waitress may never know what she did for Braeden, how what may have seemed like a small act of kindness to her, was everything to him.
As an autism/special needs parent, all we really want is acceptance. For us, for our family, for our child/adult with autism. When you find the days where you don't need to search for it, where acceptance greets you at the door and serves a stuffed platypus a meal.. Those are the moments worth sharing, a day you'll always remember, and a restaurant worth the short list.
Media, PA
