From the outside looking in?

I am the mother of a special needs child.   He doesn't look it from the outside, but he has special needs to maintain his health.   He has special diet needs, special allergen needs.  Special needs to keep him thriving on his restricted diet,  to avoid his very severe and sensitive allergens, to ensure adequate caloric/vitamin/mineral intakes while on a restricted diet, to monitor closely for signs of intolerance's to new additions to his diet...

We have had to lead a fairly sheltered life due to Little Man's needs, although with 3 other active boys, it doesn't always feel like it!   That is until we are in situations where we are not sheltered and and then I can't help but wonder what it looks like from the outside looking in....

....what it looks like for a 2yr.old to be drinking from a bottle?
....what it looks for a 2yr.old to be on an infants schedule?

....what it looks like to be dining out, feeding our other boys but not allowing Little man to even touch the food, especially if we haven't brought his millet puffs or have access to ice?

...what it looks like to have to leave in the middle of a function or event because of the needs of Little Man?
....what it looks to decline a function/gathering altogether because it involves too much food?

We were at a restaurant recently (while traveling) and I caught the glances of a father with 2 young children, and later said to Little man's daddy, "I wonder what other people must be thinking when they see us sitting down to eat and not feeding Sam".  To which he, in his wisdom, replied, "who cares.   What does it matter what other people think?  We are doing what we know we have to do to keep him safe".  Which I know, but it still makes me wonder....