Stickers!

I am so grateful for the grocery store check-out clerks who offer us stickers. The ones who offered them to Mikey when he was little, looking at HIM and asking HIM if he wanted them…AND the ones who do the same now, even though he is a grown-up. He still loves stickers and is so happy to get them.

I am not offended and I do not see it as a sign of disrespect. They are just asking him and he is free to say no. I understand that many parents and adults with special needs might be offended by the offer.

If your child has special needs and would not like the stickers, or is hurt by the offer, simply teach them to say no thank you. Or, if you want to make the point that your child is too old for stickers, say yes, take the stickers and say (or teach your child to say) some true version of the following. “My next door neighbors are little, and they would love the stickers!” It’s a subtle way to make the point that the stickers are not for your child without offending anyone.

Of course, you could teach your child to express their outrage at being offered stickers as an older kid, teen or adult…but I honestly think that the more you instill confrontation and anger, the more frustrated your child will feel throughout his or her life. If you can model letting it roll off your back, I think that’s the way to go.

As for Mikey, he’s taking the stickers, every time!