I Know What You Are But What Am I?
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| Lisa and Luke discussing Operation Smile's Three Little Bears on News 12 |
Today, my children had a half day of school so we went to
lunch at a favorite little kids place we often go to. It has open seating but there were no tables
for four so we split up two and two.
After about 10 minutes my 9 year old came over crying and said
"that kid is making fun of me."
My son has a disability and it isn't unusual for other kids to stare or say
something but it is unusual for him to be so upset. So I got up and picked up his and his
brother's food to move them. My 8 year old said, "Why are
we moving?" I said loudly, 'Because a
kid was making fun of your brother.'
The mother at the next table said it was her daughter but that, "she's only two and
a half and I told her it was none of her business." I hear this excuse a lot, as in he's only a
kid so if he is rude or insensitive 'well he's only a kid.' Given that logic I said, "Well it still hurts
his feelings," and walked away (I'm no angel it's taken me years not to want to
tell these types of people off). She left
the restaurant and then came back in much to my surprise, and asked me if her
daughter could apologize. First time in 11 years a parent has ever done
this. And I'm talking 100's of
times. The girl apologized, I explained
his condition and then I touched her arm and said thank you.
My son was hurt today but he touched someone in a very
profound way. That mother taught her child empathy, that mother put herself in
my shoes even if it was for one minute. I
don't really like fighting these battles everyday sometimes I just want to be
anonymous but today, I hope that Mom thought about her kid and my kid and
realized there was no difference. She
taught her daughter kindness and showed my son he mattered.
Xo, Lisa Lori
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