Sean and Arthrogryposis

OK, I have to get it off my chest!  Yesterday I took Sean to the Florida Mall, because it is the only local mall left with a Disney Store.  I should have known better, it is in the tourist area of town, about 30 minutes from my house, but he wanted to go to Mickey's house and I did not want to go to the Disney Area.

So............I have found that there are 3 types of people. (My AMC friends probably already knew this)

Type #1 - Friendly, and "not normal" is OK.

These are the ones that see a 2 year old in a wheelchair, and they think he is normal like the rest of us, and will say "hi", "Hey buddy" etc, in a very upbeat way!  My kind of people!!!!

Type #2 - AHHHH, Poor Baby

Makes me want to SCREAM!!!!!!!

Don't get in the kid's face and feel sorry for him!  He is just like you or me, and he does not need you feeling sorry for him, especially telling him how sorry you are.!!! What are you? DUMB?  You are rude, and have NO common sense! 

I found one "continent, many languages" (yeah they are tourists here) is full of these!!!! They keep staring, like he was from another world.  Sean would react in a strange way.  I don't think he knew what to think.  He has never been treated like a special case, and seeing these people come up to him and just stand in front of him and stare, I wanted to say something, but just kept walking. 

Type #3 - "come everybody, look what I found"

YUP, these are the WORST!!!  I also found that these are from another continent, and usually speak the same language.

They actually have the guts to say "poor baby" to his face, and then they run to get their family members who are just as rude as they are so that they can all come back and say poor baby together!!!!!!!!!  One woman actually prayed for him in front of him, and told him she was sorry his life was going to be so hard!!!!   I actually told her in a nice way that she was being rude!

OK, I do appreciate the prayers, I know they mean well, and maybe do not know how to react to seeing a small child in a wheelchair.  But.....give me a break, people with disabilities are just like the rest of the world.  When are we ALL going to learn to treat them like we want to be treated?  Common courtesy and understanding. 

I do have to say that Americans are the most understanding group.  My husband and I even noticed it again last night when we went to dinner and took Sean with us.  Most people who want to have "a connection" just come over say "Hey Buddy", "cool chair" "I like your blue casts" etc.  He LOVES this kind of attention! He likes to show off his "Jen" chair and his "blue legs".  He does not like people looking at him like he is an alien.  Would you?...........With that being said.....to all MY FRIENDS (yes, you know who you are) I do admit I AM THE ONLY ALIEN!  IT expires Nov 09, so ...............will have to do something before that.

Thanx for letting me vent!