Do You Want To Be Accepted?

I think we can all answer in some way, shape or form that we want to be accepted. We want to be accepted into a new company, a new school, a new group of friends, a new neighborhood, new church or religion, the list could go on and on.

The other day I read a heartbreaking post by one of my friends in regards to her daughter and their day at the pool. As we all know, with COVID-19, we have been couped up inside. As some restrictions have lifted, it is nice that some parks and pools are allowing folks to venture out. For a parent, that is the best news ever as kids being couped up doesn’t bood well for anyone, LOL! So, during their pool day, her daughter, who is Autistic, had a meltdown. Kids nearby decided that on top of a meltdown, why not throw insults her way. The ‘R’ word was thrown around.

My goal is to be totally transparent about our journey and that includes me being transparent in my life. As a kid, teen and adult, I have used the word retarded in different ways. Now, it was never directed towards a person with a disability, syndrome or disorder (I used it to describe something I considered dumb), but that doesn’t make it anyless hurtful and offensive to others that might have heard me say that.

One of my fears for Jackson, as he gets older, is that kids will not take the time to get to KNOW his heart, to SEE him, to LEARN who he is. He is honestly one of the most loving kiddos, he has a belly laugh that can fill a room and make you laugh with him, when he learns something new his smile lights up a room. He learns differently than others and at a slower rate, but he is by no means dumb, stupid or retarded. I realize that it might take knowing someone with a disability to realize the impact of those words. To be honest, it took me having a child like Jackson to realize how hurtful those things are and how I would never say them now knowing the impact they have.

Today and everyday, I want to challenge each an everyone of you to talk with your children, friends, family members and share our story, Jackson’s Story, and teach acceptance, spread love, spread the information on how those words might not mean much to them, but could truly tear down a family if they heard them towards their child. Our 4 year old knows that we don’t use the word “Stupid” in this house and if he hears someone else say it whether when we are out and about or on TV he will whisper to me, “They said stupid, but we don’t.” That is right buddy, we don’t! If he can learn that at 4, I think everyone can learn that at any stage in their life! The world needs love, acceptance and it starts in the home to teach those things. Accept people for their race, creed, orientation, abilities/disabilities. People are beautifully different and that is something to be celebrated and supported. You do not and will not always agree with people’s choices or beliefs, but you most definitely can still be their friend and support them as a person.

XOXO