Posts Tagged ‘bullying’
As School Starts Teach Your Kids to Be Kind
Before your kids go back to school… Talk to them about being kind. Being a friend. Be generous. Being a kind human. Because… Back when I was only 10 years ago old a new school opened up in my hometown, and I was transferred there for my last two years in elementary school. I had just gotten glasses, and did not know anyone at my new school. I was what many kids would call a geek. The kids at this school came from a nicer part of town where they…
Read MoreAn Open Letter to Those who Bully People With Special Needs
Dear Bully, When I was in public school I used to be bullied by people like you. You would see me in the corner, usually trying to keep to myself and wonder why I was there. Other times you would see me having issues reading out loud in class and snicker while I tried to pronounce different words. You’d take my inability to understand sarcasm as a way to get me in trouble. Worst of all, you’d make me feel like an outsider when more than anything I wanted to…
Read MoreAn Open Letter to the Bullies of the World:
Dear Bullies, I wish I could say there is probably a reason for the hate in your heart but I won’t be able to do that. Your tough childhood or the excuse that hurt people in return hurt people are reasons wasted on me. You see there comes a time in our lives where we need to stop blaming others for the way we are and start learning from the difficulties of our past. YOU though are in a class of bullies all by themselves. The kind that would target…
Read MoreA Different Life is Not a Less Life
A Colorado Kindergarten teacher allegedly said the following on social media: I’m so tired of hearing about special needs children…They were re****** before COVID and they’ll still be re****** after…Do you really think they will be any different after staying a year at home with their parents…Sorry, you f***** got pregnant and had a re****** kid. Your problem not mine. And yes, I’m a f****** teacher. Of course, this is despicable. The school board is moving towards dismissing him. Still, special needs parents are posting the story. Why? Because it…
Read MoreI Hope Kids Can Be Kind
“He talks like a baby!” The young boy shouted excitedly to his friends. “Baby, baby, little baby!” The boy was inches from my sons face as he taunted him. His buddies all laughed. My son, just wanting to be part of the fun and play on the playground with these young boys, innocently smiled back at him. He didn’t realize he was the object of ridicule. He was simply happy that they were including him. What those boys didn’t know is that just the week before, my son said his…
Read MoreIt Started With Hope
My story, like most stories, started with hope. Sixteen years ago, hope welled inside of me like an eternal spring of flowers, butterflies, and sunshine. Hi. My name is Carrie. I have five kids and my second son has autism. His name is Jack. Ever since he was diagnosed nearly sixteen years ago, I hoped for many things. I hoped the doctor was wrong. I hoped he would outgrow it. Mostly, I hoped he would maybe sleep longer than an hour and say the word milk instead of screaming. Over…
Read MoreHow To Use The Right Words When Talking About Those With Disabilities
It was freshman year of high school. I was sitting in English class and I overheard someone calling their friend retarded. Yes, almost 20 years later, I still remember every detail of this day, down to who the person was and what he was wearing. “Hey find a different word!” I yelled at my classmate. The class got quiet. Waiting to see what would happen next. As a high school student, my approach wasn’t the best in advocating for those with disabilities. “Why because your brother is retarded?” the freshman…
Read MoreGood People Don’t Bully Other Parents
Parenting a child with a disability is not a competition to see who has the highest functioning kid or the most severe kid. It’s not about bullying a fellow parent for admitting they are having a hard day. It’s not about alienating them because they see something different than you do. It’s not about arguing over labels or word choice. And it’s especially not about belittling a fellow parent who is newer to the journey. A parent who is asking questions. And asking for help and support. Acceptance takes time. It…
Read MoreShe’s Just a Kid who Never Learned to Discriminate
An elementary school friend of mine has a daughter not much younger than my own. These days, we only connected through social media and a shared love of our small hometown memories. My daughter had a major speech delay; so did hers. We bonded over the similarities. Her daughter Harper was diagnosed with autism; with a lot of speech therapy–my kid learned to form words. When Kate was old enough to learn about autism, we started discussing it. I mean, we started discussing it before three. She asked all…
Read MoreA Coward’s Message Goes Viral
Valerie Jerram, a Newark mom, posted a letter to Facebook on Saturday about an anonymous letter she received asking her to keep Mickey, her special needs daughter, away from a little league ballpark. The letter was left taped to her mailbox by a nameless local resident, presumably also a parent of a child in the Midway Little League where Jerram’s son has played for nine years. In fact, the family consider the Midway ballpark a second home – confirmed by the hand-painted wooden sign adorned with a pretty ribbon on the front…
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