In this day and age, social media really plays into the hypersensitivity of others. Someone is always offended over 1 thing or another. The world of special needs is no exception.
I belong to many groups and like pages, and not a day goes by where I dont see a blog or article posted regarding what to do or dont do or say or dont say to a special needs parent or child.
News flash! The world is not going to walk on egg shells or tip toe around a possibility of a hurt feeling.
This may sound harsh, and I have had some really down right rude things said to me about my daughter, including her being called a "fucking retard", yes that is offensive! Yes that more than warrants being upset. However, there are many well meaning people in the world that really truly do mean well, and to be offended over that and whining about it over the internet is getting old and tired.
Yes there are legit "well-meaners", that despite how much you advocate and educate, can still say some hurtful things. I have had that happen too. But ask yourself, do they really mean to be hurtful? Definitely not! More often or not, well meaning suggestions and comments come from people that truly do not understand your child's diagnosis no matter how much you explain it. Hell, I have been on this journey with Jaylyn for almost 2 years, and there are still things I do not understand, and Im a special needs peds nurse! Every day is a learning experience. I have even been floored by comments from my peers and fellow medical professionals. I have had E.R. docs that reviewed Jaylyn's diagnoses before examining her walk in and say "wow, I was expecting her to be a vegetable!". Yes, we are just as amazed at her progress despite what she has been through! (See what I did there? Turned a possibly offensive negative into a positive😉)
Its comments like these where I feel I am given a choice to be offended or not. Sure, it took me by surprise, but if I take a minute to reflect on the positive meaning, is it really offensive? NO! I am very proud of the fact that with all of our hard work and determination, Jaylyn is doing so fanfreakintastic, that she shocks and amazes doctors!
Then there are the more common cliche comments people often make, and there are hundreds if not thousands of blogs that reference them as being offensive. "God only gives special children to special people", "she looks normal", "at least she doesnt have________(insert worse problem here)". Sure, I can see how this is offensive if I am always on the defensive, but consider the source and true meaning from the individual who is saying it. Do they truly understand? Do they really know what to say? Are they meaning to offer words of comfort? Are they in amazement because of the diagnosis versus your child's outward appearance?
So I am proposing a challenge to my fellow bloggers! For your next blog, take the absolute most offensive hurtful things people have said to you, and turn them into a positive. From 1 special needs parent to another, I too feel as though people do not understand what I am going through. NEWS FLASH, most never will. We always want people to "see from our side", "walk in our shoes", "live a day of our lives", so lets show those "well meaners" the same respect!
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