'You can't see autism like chicken pox': mum responds to parenting criticism

A mum of children with autism has penned a heartfelt message after she was criticised for her parenting because her children were ‘rude’ at a Queensland Coles.

Katie Maree took to Facebook’s Sunshine Coast community forum after the incident at Coolum Beach left her furious.

"Dear lady at Coles Coolum,” she wrote.

"Yes, my children were rude and using revolting language.

“I apologised to you twice but in your ignorance you chose to have a go at me about my children's behaviour.

She went on to explain that while her children “looked normal” they were “far from that”.

“You can't see autism like you can see chicken pox,” she continued.

“Every day is a struggle for my children, my family, my whole community and it is so disappointing that someone like you can just so easily make it that much harder.

"My kids didn't choose to be this way. They didn't ask to be born with autism. They truly are great kids.”

The mother explained that what the woman saw was her children on “a bad day”.

She asked the woman to take the time to educate herself on autism and suggested trying “a bit of empathy”.

“I'm trying so hard to help my kids. Next time you feel the need to have a go at someone about their kids, how about you stop and ask: 'Are you ok?'”

The letter has sparked a response from parents of autistic children, who were all too familiar with the experience.

“I feel for you, we are bringing up a five-year-old grandson with autism and it is really hard to go shopping with him,” Rose Birrell commented.

“It used to bother me but now I do not care about the looks anymore.”

Others felt the mum should have considered the woman’s point of view before posting.

“Not condoning what went down but both sides have a story here,” Leah France commented.

“Shop assistants get to deal with the utmost rude, obnoxious people & expected to be polite & serve U with smile… quite possibly you struck that person after a bad shift n they had just had enough. Not everyone has delt with autism, (sic)” she wrote.