We met the neighbors. Well not exactly next door but across the street. They are lovely people and they have a ten year old daughter like us. A is so excited about that. My hubby had met them, A had met them, I had met them...but not the other two. On Sunday they set up a lemonade stand. It was so hot and their daughter invited A (I've decided it would be better to use abbreviations for the kids names from now on and may go back to change the other posts) to join in the fun.
As a parent with a child that has a difference you wonder how will this family react? How will I tell them about my son? What will their children say? What will they say? It played in my mind over and over. That moment came on Sunday. C wanted to go and see the lemonade stand ( we were all in our swimsuits) so I said lets go. Holding AW in my arms. We walked out from the back yard and hid by the Van. I really didn't think my neighbor needed to see me in all my swimsuit glory. We all peaked out to see the lemonade stand and A across the street with her new friend. The mom told us to come on over ( but being in my swimsuit I declined until she stood up and she was also in hers). AW came with me but C decided to stay back. He can be a bit shy around people he has not met before. He stood by the Van and watched. AW introduced herself and helped herself to lemonade. My neighbor asked how old my son was ( that is usually the first question) and I braced myself. I can't deny that I find it hard. I fear that they will back away or say something hurtful ( I have had one too many experiences down that path when C was younger). I am frightened. I said my son was a Little Person and that he was an achondroplasia dwarf. She said that one of her families favorite shows was "Little People, Big World". We then chatted about the show and how it has changes some peoples perspective. Her sister came out and we chatted about children in general, etc. I breathed a sigh of relief. The initial introduction was over and now I could move on. She ran over to C to introduce herself but he backed away. It was a bit out of his comfort zone. She asked if he wanted to come and jump on the trampoline ( and I had to explain that for medical reasons we do not allow him to jump on trampolines). I hope I didn't scare her off. I should have stood beside him and introduced him. I will regret that. She said she hopes someday he feels comfortable enough to come on over and play. I hope so too. I'm still learning and everyday with my son and all of my children teaches me something new.
As a parent with a child that has a difference you wonder how will this family react? How will I tell them about my son? What will their children say? What will they say? It played in my mind over and over. That moment came on Sunday. C wanted to go and see the lemonade stand ( we were all in our swimsuits) so I said lets go. Holding AW in my arms. We walked out from the back yard and hid by the Van. I really didn't think my neighbor needed to see me in all my swimsuit glory. We all peaked out to see the lemonade stand and A across the street with her new friend. The mom told us to come on over ( but being in my swimsuit I declined until she stood up and she was also in hers). AW came with me but C decided to stay back. He can be a bit shy around people he has not met before. He stood by the Van and watched. AW introduced herself and helped herself to lemonade. My neighbor asked how old my son was ( that is usually the first question) and I braced myself. I can't deny that I find it hard. I fear that they will back away or say something hurtful ( I have had one too many experiences down that path when C was younger). I am frightened. I said my son was a Little Person and that he was an achondroplasia dwarf. She said that one of her families favorite shows was "Little People, Big World". We then chatted about the show and how it has changes some peoples perspective. Her sister came out and we chatted about children in general, etc. I breathed a sigh of relief. The initial introduction was over and now I could move on. She ran over to C to introduce herself but he backed away. It was a bit out of his comfort zone. She asked if he wanted to come and jump on the trampoline ( and I had to explain that for medical reasons we do not allow him to jump on trampolines). I hope I didn't scare her off. I should have stood beside him and introduced him. I will regret that. She said she hopes someday he feels comfortable enough to come on over and play. I hope so too. I'm still learning and everyday with my son and all of my children teaches me something new.
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