“She’s so grown up now. I think my very existence embarrasses her.” the lady laughed. Then she looked at Kevin and said, “Who’s this cutie?” She knelt down on one knee and said, “Hi there sweetie. What’s your name?”

Kevin just looked at her and kept quiet. “He’s a bit shy.” I said.

“Oh, well he’s adorable. You’re definitely too young to be his mommy. Are you his big sister?”

“Huh? Oh, cousin actually. I’m taking him to the zoo.”

“That is so nice!… CP?” she asked.

“Excuse me?”

“I’m sorry, I was wondering what his disability was? I thought maybe he had cerebral palsy or maybe spina bifida. I’m sorry if I’m prying, but I start talking and I just keep going. I just finished getting my certification as a special ed teacher’s aid and I saw the stroller and the big kid in it, I figured he’s ‘special’.”

“Oh, I see.” was all I said to that. By now I’d gotten to the door of the family restroom and said, “Nice talking to you.”

“I’ll just be quiet. I talk way too much. You just get his diaper changed. Can’t have a little cutie like him get a rash. Oh, and have a great time at the zoo.”

I pushed the door closed behind us, and let out a deep sigh. “Wow!” I said.

Kevin was giving me a dirty look. “What?” I asked.

“You said people wouldn’t be able to tell and she thought there was something wrong with me.”

“I don’t know how she knew…Maybe its because she’s professional…Who cares though, you don’t know her and you won’t be seeing her again.”

“Yeah, fine. Could you get me out of this now?” He didn’t sound convinced.

“I’m sorry, honey. You know I would do anything to embarrass you.” I said as I placed him on the changing station.

“I guess.” he said a bit sullenly.

Then I had a brain storm. Instead of pulling down his shorts to change the diaper, I pulled up his shirt and blew a raspberry on his tummy. He let out a burst of laughter, so I did it again, and again. He was laughing heartily when I asked, “Still mad?”

Between laughs, he said, “No…but…could…you…get…me…changed?”