The Ugly Truth Parents of Children with Special Needs See

I stumbled upon a message from one of the mothers of the children I follow and it broke my heart. I normally don't always get a chance to read the longer messages but this one really grabbed my attention. She talked about one of the visits to her child's doctor and how ignorant one of her fellow patrons was towards her child.

I should start out by saying that this child has down syndrome and was sick and needed to be seen by her specialist. While waiting in the waiting room a little boy saw her daughter and attempted to make her smile only to be admonished by his mom not to play with her because Eve was 'different' and 'strange'.

To the woman in the waiting room'..... Every week I go to the waiting room, patiently waiting for my daughter to be seen by her specialist and nurse. Some weeks are good and I walk in happily. Some weeks are hard and walk in sad and worried. 

But every week we are there. 

This was the first time I had seen you and clearly, you had seen my daughter and I. This week my daughter had been very sick. I was worried and stressed. I was trying to keep a brave face with her and laugh and smile, playing games and signing.

This time you gorgeous son came over, grabbed the pram and started smiling at Eve and myself. We both smiled back. But you were horrified. The look you gave my daughter was a look of disgust. You grabbed your son and told him not to go near us as 'she was weird looking, don't ever go near them'. 

Maybe it was my exhaustion. Maybe it was my stress. But yes I got angry. I raised my voice and pointed out what you did. This made you so uncomfortable, that you took your son outside in the cold and waited out there, rather then be near us.

My daughter is a human being. She is a little girl who laughs and cries. She plays, claps and loves kisses and cuddles. Yes she has down syndrome. No she doesn't look weird. She looks like my child. She is my child. 

Your son didn't see her looks. He saw her smile and laugh and wanted to be involved. He didn't see her as different or weird. All he saw was a mummy and daughter having fun and playing.

Its people like you, lady in the waiting room, that will make my daughters life difficult, because you see what she looks like, rather then who she is.

But hopefully, people like your son, will be the ones that treat my daughter with respect, love and acceptance. Because your son, accepted my child without knowing her, without knowing her disability. I pray you can learn something from your son. Acceptance is everything.

From Eves mummy

This comes from the facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/4-Our-Eve/248476085287634?fref=nf