Hey there, Mama,
I want to take a moment to share something heartfelt with you. I used to think my child wouldn’t notice the differences between him and others. I assumed they would simply play together without a second thought. But, I was mistaken.
When he pointed and furrowed his brow at your child flapping her hands, my heart sank. I felt a rush of heat to my cheeks when he clung to my leg in response to your son’s wheelchair. It’s all so complex, isn’t it? It’s a reminder that even at a young age, kids can express their feelings of fear—“Mommy, I’m scared.”
This is where understanding begins for all of us. It starts with that fear of the unknown. Why would I think my toddler would react any differently?
My Commitment to You
Here’s my commitment to you: I will talk openly about our children’s differences and similarities. When my child points at yours in the grocery store, I won’t hush him in shame. Instead, I’ll engage him with conversation.
- “He uses a wheelchair to move around, just like you use your legs. But look, he has a PAW Patrol shirt on—just like you!”
- “She flaps her hands when she’s excited, while you laugh and clap. It seems like you both enjoy watching those monkeys!”
- “She has Down syndrome, but you both love kicking a soccer ball.”
- “He might not have hair, but you have those lovely curls. Plus, check out his blue hat—your favorite color!”
Those brief moments of highlighting both our children’s differences and similarities may be a tad uncomfortable, but they’re crucial. If we can reduce fear and help our kids play together without barriers, it will all be worth it. Parenting is challenging; if it were easy, we’d probably be doing it wrong.
And let me clarify, this isn’t about feeling good about myself or doing charity work. It’s about ensuring my child doesn’t miss out on the incredible experiences your child brings. Every day, I learn from your wonderful children—lessons in kindness, strength, courage, and joy. I wish for my little one to share in those experiences.
Let’s Connect
So, let’s connect! Let’s grab some coffee and let our kids explore and learn from one another. Who knows? Maybe one day, when they’re adults, they’ll be sipping coffee together too.
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Summary
In this heartfelt message, a mother reflects on her initial misconceptions about her child’s awareness of differences in others, especially those with special needs. She shares her commitment to fostering understanding and acceptance by openly discussing both differences and similarities with her child. The importance of reducing fear and encouraging inclusivity is emphasized, along with an invitation to connect over coffee as their children learn from each other.