dont interfere with my lesson

The idea that it takes a villiage to raise children has a nice ring to it, if I am not around and my child needs help I would like someone to help guide them to the right decision but lately all I see are meddlers not guiding children but trying to rescue them when they don't need it.  Last weekend I was waiting to check out and the child in front of me asked to ride a mechanical horse, her mother did not have change.  I thought for a moment about offering some quarters but realized the mom was handling it, she explained that the little girl should remember to grab change when they leave.  More importantly the child was understanding and not getting overly upset.  Just as they were leaving the cashier swooped in to be the hero and pulled out her own change purse for the child, I felt bad for the mom her lesson about planning was lost.

A few days later I was flabbergasted as I took my young son, who is in a wheelchair and does not speak, to the mall and decided to treat him to a Cinnabon.  I broke off a piece, put it on the fork and handed him the fork he ate the piece and I wrestled the for back and took a bite and set up his next bit while he chewed.  I was teaching sharing, cooperation and pacing eating.  I glanced at my phone, I don't remember if it was to check the time or see if I had an important email but I was not focused on my phone, I didn't even have the wheels locked on the wheelchair so focus was primarily on my son eating his food and trying to reach for the fork just out of his reach.  I also noticed a lady walking by the table.  I noticed more when she turned around.  I glanced up as she pushed the food toward him! I pushed it back away.  She said "he was reaching for it" I informed him I knew that but he still had food in his mouth so he could not have another bite.

I am sure she had the best of intentions, in the 10 seconds she walked by she saw what appeared to be a mom ignoring her child but what it he was not able to use a fork safely.  Maybe a smaller bite was needed.  What if I was so crawl to eat something he was allergic to in front of him?  But most importantly if a child wants something it is ok to make them want a little longer it lets them understand better when they can not get something they want.