You Probably Don't Know the Story...

It has happened more than once, in fact... it has happened more often than not.  I park in the handicap space, I display the handicap sign, I exit my vehicle, and begin to get my children out... only to find someone giving me the stink eye.  I GET IT!  I used to be one of those people.  It is obvious when I get out of the car that I am not handicapped.  From the outside looking in, it appears as though I am a mom in good health, who has 2 healthy children, who is more than likely too lazy to park somewhere else.
The part of being judged by a stranger that really bothers people, is the part where you aren't given the opportunity to defend yourself.  You aren't able to explain yourself and maybe if you could, they would understand your situation.  The fact of life is that we are all living with a unique situation.  No 2 families go through the same issues, and judging others for any reason is really never okay.  It is not your place or right to judge someone.  I heard something the other night from a new and wise friend that has really stuck with me.

ALWAYS ASSUME POSITIVE INTENT...

Let that sink in for a moment.  Do you really grasp the concept?  Do you exude this concept in your own day to day?  Think of how much better the day would go, if you always assume that the intent behind anything is positive and never malicious.  When someone cut you off on the way to the grocery store, you wouldn't honk.  You would assume that their intent was positive.  Even though the move may have been dangerous, it is possible that they didn't see you.  It is also possible that they are on the way to the hospital to say goodbye to a dying relative... whatever the situation is, it wasn't malicious.  

When people judge me for parking in a handicap space, they have no clue that I am not the one with the handicap.  They have no clue that my innocent 1 year old is the one who is disabled.  We are not able to purchase a wheelchair, so we are still using standard strollers.  So to the onlooker I look like a capable woman who is putting a capable child into a standard stroller... where is the handicap?!?!  They may or may not see me struggle to get my 30lb child, with no concept of helping with foot placement or holding his own weight, in or out of the stroller that is not intended for use as a wheelchair!  However, they do not understand, so they judge.  I am guilty of judging others too, we all are.  We all need to begin assuming positive intent, and spend more time lending a hand than staring at something we don't understand!!!

Footnote... except the US Government.  I am pretty sure there is no positive intent, just money hungry politicians trying to get reelected!