Ok first before I get to my topic noted above I just want to say - I'm not so good at this blogging thing. I LOVE reading everyone else's but just can't seem to make time to post on mine - guess i read too many others huh? Anyway, if anyone is out there reading this - I'll try to do better!
Ok - so I was speechless - YES - speechless!! Twice in the last two weeks someone has unknowingly opened their mouth and not just inserted their foot, but practically their entire LEG!
I feel a need to give you some background information first - Cole, my son, had cancer. He was three and had a brain tumor. It was surgically removed and he suffered some nerve damage during the surgery. He couldn't walk, sit up, etc. He had left side weakness similar to a stroke victim. His face was effected as well. For about 8 months after his surgery, we saw no movement on the left side of his face and his left eye doesn't close all the way. His left eye was also turned in but that was corrected after about 5 months or so. So when he sleeps now - his left eye still doesn't close all the way and when he smiles, sometimes his smile is crooked. He is also short for his age. His body didn't grow during radiation and chemo. He's growing now, but has some catching up to do. He's only in the 10th percentile for height. So he isn't like a foot tall or anything - just a couple of inches shorter than your average six year old. So keep all of this in mind as you read on.................
So first, I'm at the mall, looking for school clothes and Cole is sacked out in the stroller. While I'm waiting for a sales associate to finish ringing someone up so she can help me with some pants two young women walk in and see Cole snoozing. Now these women are probably 25 at least, maybe older. One says "OH, how sweet? Is he yours?" I reply "Yes" and smile - then she sings a little line from a well known Metallica song - "Sandman". In case you aren't familiar with the song, the line is "sleeps with one eye open.............." So, can you see where I'm going with this!??? In my head, I was thinking did she really just saw something SO rude? No, surely not, I'm just hearing Metallica over the store radio? NOPE - she really said it. Now, of course, she doesn't know anything at all about Cole, but why in the world would you make fun of someone like that.
And second - we decided to treat ourselves to a great meal Monday night and we headed to the Olive Garden for dinner. We were being seated and Cole was being VERY polite to our hostess. She asked if he wanted crayons and he said something like "Oh yes, please, thank you!" and she said something about how sweet and polite he was than asked how old he was. I said five, six in a few weeks. And she says "REALLY? He's tiny!!!!" Like he's a foot tall or something? Like she's shocked that he's out in public being so small! Now let me also say that this hostess was about 4'9" - no kidding. And in her 20's atleast - so she's reached her FULL growth potential, I'm guessing!
So two comments in two weeks that the speaker probably didn't think anything of AT ALL - but give me a break. Why would you even say anything like that? I'm sure I've made a comment that wasn't appropriate - but not to someone's face (or their mother's face) that is essentially making fun of them or laughing at them or insulting them!!
So PLEASE think about what you say BEFORE you say it - and teach your kids to do the same. The best way to do that is by being the example. That's what I try to do for Cole each and every day!
ok - enough of that! hopping off the soap box!
bored yet?
lisa
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