The little girl in the pink dress was throwing quite the tantrum, acting like a classic spoiled child. Her small frame was tense with frustration as she hurled groceries from the shopping cart, sending apples and cereal boxes tumbling to the floor. With each stomp of her tiny feet, the sound echoed through the aisles, a rhythmic protest that drew the eyes of many shoppers around her. The adults nearby, their faces a mix of concern and annoyance, attempted to intervene, their voices rising above the chaos in soothing tones, but the girl remained impervious to their efforts. She was lost in her own world of distress, her cries piercing through the ambient noise of the supermarket, creating a scene that was both alarming and captivating for onlookers.

Amber Gregory was right there, capturing the chaos on video, her phone held aloft as she recorded the unfolding drama. She found herself in the middle of it all, a reluctant witness to the spectacle, yet also a defender of the girl against those who were quick to judge. Some people, their brows furrowed in disapproval, assumed she was the girl’s mother, while others openly criticized her for not stepping in more forcefully to control the situation. “Why doesn’t she just take the child out of the store?” one woman muttered, her voice dripping with disdain. However, Gregory had a deeper understanding of what was really happening, a perspective shaped by her own experiences as a parent.

According to Gregory, the girl was actually a nonverbal, neurodivergent child who was overwhelmed and scared in the store, a place filled with bright lights, loud noises, and an array of unfamiliar faces. She explained that the girl couldn’t express her feelings or ask for help, which is why she was acting out in such a dramatic fashion. Instead of offering assistance or trying to understand the situation, most bystanders chose to film the incident, their phones capturing the moment for social media rather than stepping in to help. Gregory, who is a parent of a neurodivergent child herself, felt a wave of frustration wash over her at the lack of empathy shown by those around them. She wished they could see beyond the surface, to recognize the fear and confusion that lay beneath the girl’s outburst, and to respond with compassion rather than judgment. In that moment, she felt a deep sense of solidarity with the little girl, knowing all too well the challenges faced by those who navigate the world differently.