burbia.com — Scene: A mother helps her son have fun at the public pool. Mothers all around are doing same. Only this son is severely disabled; the 2 are ignored. Author (normally hard-bitten, cynical journalist) observes; she tries to understand (she can't); she imagines. She's moved & humbled.This is her short, personal piece. Really nice, IMO.
Aug 14, 2008 View in Crawl 4
rawgAug 14, 2008
This reminds me of a friend who is the mother of a disabled child. She once told me that she was glad that her son was born to her because she wouldn't have wanted him to be born to someone who would have loved him any less.
catfish182Aug 15, 2008
I had a sister who had cerebral palsy to the point where she could not walk or talk. Doing things with her was hard as she got older and i can say i watched my step mom do similar things with my sis and we all would receive stares. I myself used to like it when people would just come up and ask whats wrong with her. Sis would love it also as she loved to meet new people. I can not thank you enough for posting this.
openthinkAug 15, 2008Submitter
You're welcome. I've known people in similar situations and I know they would so much prefer people approach them and ask questions and treat them like regular people. The worst thing for them is people seeming to avoid them, get distant. In some ways other people don't understand -- but I also think they're afraid of what makes them uncomfortable. It's a shame.
redcolumbineAug 15, 2008
I thank YOU, as the father of not one but two disabled children, for staying with your family. If only you knew what a rare gem you are.