Guest guest Posted July 30, 2004 Report Share Posted July 30, 2004 Hi - I don't think I've been stared at like a " freakshow. " Well, at least I've never interpreted it that way <wink>. We talked about this to the parents at the Magic convention last week...I (well, WE, but I'll only talk to myself) DO get my share of stares and I usually think it's because people can't tell if I'm an adult or a kid (I'm the size of a kid and a face younger than someone close to 40, but I've got boobs, makeup and gray hair). My response is different, depending on the situation. Younger kids are naturally curious and if they ask me questions (or even if I overhear them asking their caregiver questions), I'll answer honestly, in a way they can understand ( " I'm not a little girl; I'm a grown-up. You know how some people in your class are bigger than you and some are smaller? It's the same way with grown ups. I'm just one of the smaller ones. But I can do everything that anyone else can. " ). If they just stare, I either ignore them or I'll stare back, depending on my mood. If I'm PMSing, I HAVE been known to stick my tongue out at them <wink>. Adults are a different story...I figure they should know better than to stare so I'm less forgiving...and if I don't ignore them, I'll either GLARE at them or I'll be REALLY obnoxious and wave to them and say " Hi, I see you too! " (ask RSS adults Kim, Claire or Teri about our venture into Downtown Chicago for the details on THAT...OK, so we DID look like Ringling Brothers clowns all coming out of the back of the taxi...but the staring people got what they deserved <VBEG>). Adults who mention how short I am, how small my feet are or how cute I am (GGRRRRR!) will usually get brushed off or a sarcastic response, since all of those are just plain RUDE <G>. What do you do? -Sharon- Just an RSS kid who grew up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 30, 2004 Report Share Posted July 30, 2004 Hi - Pretty much what I said...the 4 of us took a taxi to the Navy Pier, One by one, we came out of the back seat of the taxi and the people who were already on the street were SO amazed at us that they couldn't take their eyes off us <wink>...so I started waving and saying HI to them <G>. Then when we were inside one of the buildings at the Navy Pier, some couple who didn't speak english were staring at the one of us who was sitting/resting next to them...so I loudly started waving and saying HI to them too. It's a pity I'm so shy, huh? -Sharon- Just an RSS kid who grew up > Okay Sharon What happened on your trip downtown??? > > Mom to Liam (3 1/2 years old 34 3/4 " 27 lbs > SGA / possible RSS, Hypothyriod, Epilepsy.) Started GHT 5/18/04 > and Jed (11 years old) Tourettes, CAPD,SVT. > SW Orlando FL > **Push for Bush 'cause Kerry is scary** > Check out my group: > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ToddlerswEpilepsy/? yguid=174302728 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 30, 2004 Report Share Posted July 30, 2004 That is awesome!! What did he say? When we were at the navy pierr everyone that walked by commented " that poor baby out here in this wind...see the cute newborn..it is too cold for that little baby " ..I wanted to say something but I am not brave either!! > Oh yeah.. I wish I could have that kinda nerve sometimes.. The closest I got > was when a man asked me how old Liam was (he was 1 at the time) and i said > 12 months.. He said " are you sure? " > > My reply was, " When I got him at the pound 9 months ago they said he was 3 > months old.. So yeah, I'm sure " ... > > Mom to Liam (3 1/2 years old 34 3/4 " 27 lbs > SGA / possible RSS, Hypothyriod, Epilepsy.) Started GHT 5/18/04 > and Jed (11 years old) Tourettes, CAPD,SVT. > SW Orlando FL > **Push for Bush 'cause Kerry is scary** > Check out my group: > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ToddlerswEpilepsy/? yguid=174302728 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 30, 2004 Report Share Posted July 30, 2004 I think it is funny how different people are. My daughter was diagnosed SGA but my son, now 4.5, had pretty bad hypotonia and used a walker until he could walk on his own at 26 months and didn't crawl until age 23 months (he was a roller - did I see you were too in an earlier post?). People were never sure if they could look or not look, ask or not ask, and I think that comes from not knowing how people react. The first day he had his walker at daycare we were going down the hall, which as usual, was filled with parents waitng for the preschool. I think they were used to seeing walking holding both my hands so they wer almost silent! But, as soon as I called out that he didn't have a permit yet so BE CAREFUL! everyone laughed and it was okay. I think they felt like I gave them permission to look and acknowledge. My cousin was severely burned as a child but was a cheerleader in high school which exposed the large burn scar coverning half her leg. She always wanted people to ask rather than have the burn catch their eye and have them look away, uneasy. I tried to adopt that policy with my son and daughter and always was very open to anyone around so that they could learn. However, I try to be very sensitive to others because some people/parents react different with strangers comments or a simple hello. My son was enrolled in a special phys ed program on Saturdays at a nearby college and a woman had never told her daughter, age 12!, that she had cerebral palsy and that is why she was different. She was congnitive and probably just at a 10 year old comprehensive, way old (in my opinion) to not be told why she was different! But such is life. I would hate to be the one always stared at (although I am only 5'1 " I do have 5 " on you!!!!) so I hope Emerence can develop a good sense of humor. I think her brother will take it harder! He was watching Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs today and I was explaining to him how Emerence might not grow very big and he started to cry!! I told him she would be alright but just little probably. Oh, the poor kid sobbed for 5 minutes saying he wanted her to be big and strong. Just so you remember my daughter was the little one (okay, I guess I better be more specific here !) with the bob that kept running around the room and laughing with Kim. > > Okay Sharon What happened on your trip downtown??? > > > > Mom to Liam (3 1/2 years old 34 3/4 " 27 lbs > > SGA / possible RSS, Hypothyriod, Epilepsy.) Started GHT 5/18/04 > > and Jed (11 years old) Tourettes, CAPD,SVT. > > SW Orlando FL > > **Push for Bush 'cause Kerry is scary** > > Check out my group: > > http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ToddlerswEpilepsy/? > yguid=174302728 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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