I was called a goat - Page 2

[mamadelbosque]

I'd report it. Its not nice to point and laugh at *anyone*. If he's pointing & laughing at you, he's likely to point & laugh at kids who *WILL* take it the wrong way. And thats not good for buisiness, not good for him not good for the kids. Working with the public, whether you have special needs or not, requires some level of social skills and know what is and is *NOT* appropriate. If he (or anyone) is working with the public, he needs to know whats OK to say and whats not. When its OK to point and laugh, and when its not (which is most of the time). If he can't do that, then he needs a different job. Special needs is no excuse to be rude.

[happysmileylady]

I am confused, was there no other employee there in the barn with him/you? IMO, I would let the situation go in regards to the employee making the comments. No, it's not appropriate, but I would be concerned about the employer handling it appropriately.

But, then again, there should have been another employee there. And, when the disabled employee began to act inappropriately, the other employees should have corrected him. And that, I think should have been addressed.

[MySunflowerBoys]

As a mother of a child with Down syndrome AND a mother who has breastfed publicly for the past 7 1/2 years, I can see both sides in this situation.

I'm sorry you were singled out and embarrassed at what sounds like a wonderful family event. Based on how you discribed the way you were nursing your very young baby and the environment you were in, I think it's unlikely he was specifically commenting on the fact you were breastfeeding. I am guessing he was excited to see a mother holding and caring for your very young baby, much like he has seen the animal mothers caring for their young where he works.

My son is 5 1/2 and his speech is still in the early developmental stages. I can't predict how he'd react in that situation since he isn't that verbal yet. I can tell you that he basically has one volume: loud and excited, when he talks. He's been taught sign language since he was 7 months old and using a great deal of sign, hand gestures, pointing to express himself when others may not understand him. It may take a long time for that mode of expression to wear off. Many grown people I've met with Down syndrome have difficulty articulating as well as difficulty understanding social skills.

Again, I am sorry you felt uncomfortable, but I don't think this was a situatin that merrited involvement with this person's employers. I think a kind smile and nod with "Yes, this is my baby! Just like the goats, she needs her momma to take good care of her." He probably would of responded with pride that he was aknowledged and not ignored.

I know my son gets louder, more repetivitive and excited about what he's trying to say if he isn't acknowledged. Often times, all anyone needs to do is look at him and say "Yes, Sean? Oh, okay!" and he settles down. He just wants to be heard and make conversation too.

[47chromosomes]

I'll be upfront. My son has Down Syndrome. He is four.

First, the positive thing is you were not being called a goat by a person who was ill informed, or just plain rude, about public breastfeeding. So that is positive. There was no discrimination there.

*If* the young man realized that you were indeed breastfeeding, he was simply making a comparison to what is a big part of his world--the goat farm. Or as the the pp said, he may have noticed how you were caring for your child just as the ewes care for the kids. This probably isn't the first time that he has made the realization that both human young and goat young are called "kids".

As a mom of a child with Down Syndrome, if my son made that comparison I would be thrilled that he put the two together.

But also as a mom of a child with Down Syndrome, I would not want my son to behave in ways that embarrass other people. Social skills is a life long learning process for many people who have intellectual disabilities. And, I strongly disagree with others who said the person is incapable of learning the difference. Perhaps they do not have much exposure to people with Down Syndrome, but I am sure the young man is capable of learning. In fact, his employment is most likely a constant learning experience for him.

Do I think you should call management? At this point, I don't know. I think too much time has past for the young man to recall what his did and learn what to do different. But perhaps not. If you do call management, be kind and realize the young man was not condemning breastfeeding, just observing something he thought was neat.

If it had been me, I would have acknowledged his idea in hopes he would pipe down.

Also, was there not anyone else working with him? That person is the one at fault for your embarrassment I would think. They should have had the where-with-all to say, "Hey buddy, keep your voice down please." Or maybe that person had no idea what the young man was talking about.

Anyway, it is a rambly opinion, I know. Sorry about that. I hope your experience does not discourage you from attending the farm again. I really do not think the young man meant to hurt your feelings. I think he was just excited--even if he did express it inappropriately.

[boheime]

I want to thank those of you who replied who have children with DS. I haven't had a lot of contact with individuals with DS. Your wise words gave me a better understanding. Had I known that he needed acknowledgement at the time, I would have said something. Upon further reflection, the uncomfortable feeling I had was more from having a man taking steps toward me while yelling - totally my issue.

And for those of you who asked, at the time this happened, there was one other employee/volunteer with DS present. When we first walked into the cow's barn, there was an employee speking with them but she left shortly after we arrived.

[mimi_mommy]

I think what needs to be addressed would be the behavior of yelling anything across a barn.
As an individual that has some family with DS I know that they think like children. The person was probably making the connection on how he could understand it. Just as any child would. Especially since you were in a barn with mama and baby animals. This is what he knows!!
But again yelling any kind of comment about anyone shoudl be addresses and is behavior that can be modified in individuals with DS...it's something they aren't always aware can make other uncomfortable

[LionessMom]

Originally Posted by noobmom

I don't know what the extent of his disability is, but I think he made a connection in his head and got a kick out of out. Of course human babies survive by drinking milk from their mothers, just like other mammals. But for most of the population (excluding families with babies), the thought probably never crosses their mind. You were in a milking barn. You're nursing a baby. There were goat babies. Goat babies are called kids. Hey, human babies are called kids too! You have milk. So do the goats! Did you feel like it was an insult, like he was calling you a goat? Or more an observation/analogy?
To him, maybe it's an analogy. You = goat, your baby = goat kid.

Originally Posted by MySunflowerBoys

Based on how you discribed the way you were nursing your very young baby and the environment you were in, I think it's unlikely he was specifically commenting on the fact you were breastfeeding. I am guessing he was excited to see a mother holding and caring for your very young baby, much like he has seen the animal mothers caring for their young where he works.

yeah to this. i wasnt there so i dont know what tone of voice he used but.... it didnt sound like he would have known you were bfing. i would have unlatched kiddo and put them more upright in the sling then supportively said to the guy something along the lines of "yeah i am a mom just like the goat and they are both called kids." with a smile. i would have taken the time to acknowledge what he said and let him see the babies face. i know it is hard to think of those things when you feel put on the spot or embarrassed but i doubt he meant anything rude.