Last post Fri, May 02 2008 6:23 PM by strokie. 21 replies.
I don't mind when children stare. When I was in a children's hospital there were kids who were terrified of my wheelchair with me in it (my favourite kid there was a little girl with CP whose family spoke Spanish and she was terrified of me even though she was in a wheelchair herself. She didn't realize that it was the same thing. But she was adorable and I think I have pictures of her because I befriended her and her family... tangent, sorry)
Children tend to be a LOT more willing to ask questions than adults are. I'm perfectly okay when a kid (or an adult, honestly, if they're polite about it... especially if they have kids or whatever) comes up to me and asks why I use those "metal sticks" or why I'm in a wheelchair or why I walk funny or what have you.
What I hate is when parents hide their kids or tell them not to look at me or ask questions (talk to me!) or anything.
Of course, I'm also that person who looks at the disa counseler, incredibly confused, when she sits there and "reassures" me that everything I submit to her is completely confidential. I just don't view it as something that needs to (or can be!) hidden.
But to answer your question, no I don't. I usually just grin at them and say hello how are you.
Nope I don't mind....kids are honest and sincere....well usually!
I do tell a child if they cross inappropriate boundaries (i.e. a 14 year old that asks me how I use the bathroom or one young patient last week asked me if he could see my legs under my skirt...ummmm NO!)
not at all, I mine worse when their parents shoo them away.
I have to admit, sometimes I do mind.
It's not like i would yell at them, or even would want their parents to drag them off.
It's just, sometimes I do mind.
Daisies
rachel, I donot have any thing for a child to stare at other than a few scar fom surgery after vmy stroke and children do tend to stare I does not bother me and they ask questions most of which are hard to answer like what is thst bump om your head? my answer is " thats were my mom hit me for being bad" that usally get a smile or laugh followed by what is it really " it's a shunt goes from my brain to my stomach then I get the look this man must be crazy! mark
I am answering for my husband...As most of you know, he is an AKA....Therefore, we have a lot of kids asking questions...where are your legs is the most common. My husband will explain to them and will talk with them. I have told this story before, but, the one that we still laugh at was this...we were at a resturant, a child came up to us and started screaming to his mom....he said, mom, that man did not have to wear shoes, you made me wear shoes and told me that I could not eat there because they won't let me in if I don't have shoes....he then looked at my husband and was really angry...he said...hey, man, you have to wear shoes in here to eat!!! We laughed so hard and the kid just kept standing there giving us a dirty look...my husband took the time to explain that he can not wear shoes because he does not have feet to put them on...the kid wanted my husband to put on feet...then, my husband said that he did not have legs or knees to put the feet on...he said, were you in the military, is that why you don't have legs...my husband told him yes...then, the kid said thank you for getting your legs all blowed up for me! LOL LOL Kids are so innocent and this is the time for them to learn and, in the future, be helpful to people with disabilities.
I thought of the saying from the mouths of babes what a beautiful story please thank your husband forme thank god for unselfess people like him that you!! mark aka astrokie
