Her son immediately caught my attention while we were standing in line to ride the kiddie roller coaster Wednesday evening. His small fingers traced the decorative carvings in the fence separating us from the ride’s controls and controller. Though crowded, he had created a space to explore, to think, to be hidden in the shadow of his mom. 

Her stance was familiar: loving and on alert. She was giving him guarded freedom, at ease with herself and her child…in a society that stares. 

Then Jonathan drew me close and whispered, “Mommy, is he deaf? Is that a hearing aid? Is he hurting?” 

This was a huge step for Jonathan. Years of coaching through somewhat sensitive situations (e.