tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287189154777669762.post6828193846472920790..comments2023-03-29T09:08:28.943-07:00Comments on Madeleine and Max: PSA: Teach Your KidsNikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06097167155829602293noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287189154777669762.post-41697562693254476122015-10-09T10:11:58.588-07:002015-10-09T10:11:58.588-07:00I am so sad for Madeleine that she experienced thi...I am so sad for Madeleine that she experienced this. A little boy in our neighborhood has autism to a moderate degree and his ways of play are quite different from our girls'. We have had the conversation numerous times about how all people are different. And that's OK! I hope it sinks into their little brains but this serves again as a good reminder to continue having the conversations.Kelly2https://www.blogger.com/profile/14302262211852411939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287189154777669762.post-10080209253770290702015-08-30T12:34:57.486-07:002015-08-30T12:34:57.486-07:00I am trembling. This is all so touching. One of my...I am trembling. This is all so touching. One of my greatest worries and duties as a mother is to teach my son to be respectful and kind to others. I put myself in your place and i wish i could hug you. I put myself in Madeleines place and i wish i could erase from her memory the words she heard from these bullies. But i put myself also in these girls´mothers place and feel pity in first place. I would have totally, totally lost my control if i saw my son doing something like that. I wish all the best for you, Madeleine and Max. brunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02039947080798540149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287189154777669762.post-21378362882581995512015-08-28T18:32:47.298-07:002015-08-28T18:32:47.298-07:00A fantastic book that drives this point home is Wo...A fantastic book that drives this point home is Wonder by R.J. Palacio. It would be a wonderful read aloud for any grade school child to discuss and teach kindness and compassion in relating to others that are different.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15740884307759259140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287189154777669762.post-85487852672998078532015-08-27T17:43:30.100-07:002015-08-27T17:43:30.100-07:00Could you please provide a description of the girl...Could you please provide a description of the girls you saw? I know of a Lola in that age range and her mother is lovely. I would be very surprised if her Lola is the Lola from the pool, but I know that if she is, her mother would most definitely want to know. stardustlanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08735047725340688772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287189154777669762.post-84944055277402848502015-08-27T15:37:36.575-07:002015-08-27T15:37:36.575-07:00This is amazing. I actually had a talk with my gi...This is amazing. I actually had a talk with my girls a day or two ago about how sometimes babies are born with no arms, no legs, one eye, etc. How it's normal and some people are just like that, but can still do anything they want to do. But I didn't cover the other aspect of it, when kids or adults lose a part of their body from an accident or sickness, etc. I will absolutely be working on that with them.Nicole Stoddardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13093505064982746359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287189154777669762.post-18333027390379601862015-08-27T13:55:33.907-07:002015-08-27T13:55:33.907-07:00Thank you for posting this. I have two daughters,...Thank you for posting this. I have two daughters, aged 3 and 5, and I constantly talk to them about how we are all different. As my oldest daughter enters kindergarten this year (QAE, is that were your daughter goes?), I want to prepare her not just academically, but socially. We talk about people in wheelchairs, dwarfism, blind, deaf, facial deformities, Down Syndrome, etc - I even show them pictures if I can find them. I'm trying to start a conversation about it, so that it's not a big deal when they meet others. <br /><br />When we go out to eat, my 3 year old sometimes points and shouts "mommy look! someone's in a wheelchair!" I always feel awful, because I don't want the person to feel ashamed. In reality, we talk about wheelchairs so much, and how cool they are, that they are probably excited to see one. Whenever we see someone in a wheelchair I make a point to say how wonderful that they are able to get around! <br /><br />About a week or so ago, I took my girls to Zeeks, and as we sat outside a mom and daughter walked by. I think it was you! The girl had a prosthetic leg. My girls stared (which I hate, and it's so hard to combat child curiosity), but I took it as an opportunity to celebrate your daughter. I tried not to make a big deal about it, at the same time. I smiled, ate my pizza, and said, "That is so cool! She's got a bionic leg to help her get around." (I hope using the word bionic is ok....I was trying to add a cool factor to it) :) I really try to humanize any person we see that is "different." I immediately asked my girls, "Do you think she likes salami and bacon pizza like you do? What My Little Pony do you think is her favorite?" The kids realized she's probably just like them. <br /><br />I really really want to know how else I can prepare my kids. I would be heartbroken to ever know they started or said something rude. I hope my kindergartner has the opportunity to meet your daughter. Your post broke my heart - I can't imagine being a mom and knowing your kid feels embarrassed, and hearing the cruel things other kids say. <br /><br />My daughter's don't have physical disabilities, but they are different in their own way. They have two moms. While we're lucky to live in a progressive city, I know they will be teased or feel embarrassed at some point. We get LOTS of stares, and kids have asked them why they have two moms. Pretty benign for now, but I imagine it will get worse. <br /><br />I hope your daughter knows how special she is, and that she can rise above the name callers. Kids sometimes see the differences first, not realizing there is so much more to us than a prosthetic leg, two moms, scars, etc. I was bullied so badly (for my teeth, hair, butt) I cried every day after school. <br /><br />My kids would be honored to play at the park with your daughter. Hope they get a chance to meet!<br />-Carrie :)<br />saturynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258577818132268580noreply@blogger.com