tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458200.post9084864201359857526..comments2023-11-02T05:15:04.402-05:00Comments on A Work of Art: Raising Our Exceptional Son: Ben and Benniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12165216797183902071noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458200.post-12641023152331721072007-09-26T21:44:00.000-05:002007-09-26T21:44:00.000-05:00Bennie--- anonymous was me... I'm not really sure...Bennie--- anonymous was me... I'm not really sure why I didn't identify myself-- maybe because I am "taking a break.." whatever. I'm glad you took the question as it was intended-- I feel slightly ashamed that as a reasonable (?) adult I really don't know what is acceptable and welcomed, and I'm also regretful that I really don't know how to best tell my kids to interact with other kids that might be different. thank you for seeing through the verbage to see that I was sincere with my desire to know how to interact and what to say!!cmhlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10317855402018758135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458200.post-10580873032817094892007-09-26T10:46:00.000-05:002007-09-26T10:46:00.000-05:00I'm sorry that happened Bennie, kids can be cruel....I'm sorry that happened Bennie, kids can be cruel. I remember I went camping with the recreational group for the developmentally challenged I worked at and the cabin was in a Boy Scout park. We decided to go for a walk and at the same time, one of the Scout groups was going for a walk. The boy heard one our our guy's talking and started to laugh at him. Then they <I>threw pinecones</I> at him and everyone else we were with.<BR/><BR/>We filed a complaint to Boy Scouts of Canada because their leader did nothing to stop it.<BR/><BR/>I also blame society and the educational system.jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05665566227297863569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458200.post-48608826268123301442007-09-26T10:45:00.000-05:002007-09-26T10:45:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Sarcasticahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09007723597942950030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458200.post-87214621029586199792007-09-26T10:29:00.000-05:002007-09-26T10:29:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Sarcasticahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09007723597942950030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458200.post-44031997807351974072007-09-26T09:24:00.000-05:002007-09-26T09:24:00.000-05:00Anon, I agree with Gretchen. Excellent stuff and I...Anon, I agree with Gretchen. Excellent stuff and I didn't find anything rude whatsoever about your questions. In fact by asking them you're offering part of the solution! I'm also going to take G's advice and use your comment as today's blog post.<BR/><BR/>Kimmy, that was a purple washcloth drying on the back of his wheelchair. I hadn't even noticed that before. Now it's the only thing I can focus on!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458200.post-35261503494096102612007-09-26T06:04:00.000-05:002007-09-26T06:04:00.000-05:00Bennie--I love anonymous's post, please add it to ...Bennie--I love anonymous's post, please add it to your blog! Anon-I'm a mom of a PKS child too, and your questions were wonderful, not rude and not offensive at all!<BR/>I think what you say here is absolutely correct: "and I think that is part of hte problem with many parents-- they are trying so hard not to offend & to be PC, they just end up saying... nothing."Gretchenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14395850914692471354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458200.post-54356944722785588502007-09-25T23:19:00.000-05:002007-09-25T23:19:00.000-05:00Bennie, you're a better man than me. I would have ...Bennie, you're a better man than me. I would have most likely said something to the grandmother or the kids (no promises that it would have been polite). I'm not one to lose my cool that often, but that kind of thing can set me off. Sounds like you handled in the best way you could at the time. Especially in talking with Ben.<BR/><BR/>Here's to next weekend! Hopefully that kind of thing won't happen again. I think I'm heading up to FU for the WoCo game. Hate you won't be there, but I'll cheer really loud for you!<BR/><BR/>Sorry for the long post.Vancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10903747949088370829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458200.post-56610115206188908612007-09-25T21:14:00.000-05:002007-09-25T21:14:00.000-05:00this is a very serious post...when i read through ...this is a very serious post...when i read through it i was angry. i mean...i just couldn't deal with the ignorance of these people you encounter. i would bite my tongue off i'm afraid.<BR/><BR/>now, onto something cheery.<BR/><BR/>i thought ben had a purple cone hat on his head in the pic. i thought "what's he celebrating?" LOL. he looks like he's deep in thought or he is not fond of that shade of green. either way-oh you know what-he looks older in that pix too. there will be no more of that-that growing up business. you can tell him i said so too.kimmykhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15527009466610518600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458200.post-39571881123910034952007-09-25T20:54:00.000-05:002007-09-25T20:54:00.000-05:00Bennie I can't think of how to phrase this questio...Bennie I can't think of how to phrase this question where it doesn't seem rude--- and I think that is part of hte problem with many parents-- they are trying so hard not to offend & to be PC, they just end up saying... nothing.<BR/><BR/>My question for you--- I have two young children, and I hope they wouldn't behave like the ones did you encountered. I KNOW I wouldn't react like that mother or grandmother did. But as you know, kids are curious about anyone that might look or seem different than themselves.<BR/><BR/>1. What SHOULD the mother/grandmother have said?<BR/><BR/>2. Would you welcome interaction with other kids with Ben? Or would that be intrusive?<BR/><BR/>3. How should we as parents teach our kids to interact with kids that may be less verbal? <BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>ughhhhhhhhhhh. see here I go, I feel like everything I said is offensive. Please know that is not how I intended it to sound--- I genuinely don't KNOW. What is welcomed? What is offensive? <BR/><BR/>Ben & other kids like him deserve to be able to interact, and I need to teach my kids HOW to interact.<BR/><BR/>PS--- I love the pic of Ben below sleeping--- he looks worn OUT!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458200.post-46681939693127594412007-09-25T18:57:00.000-05:002007-09-25T18:57:00.000-05:00Bennie--I totally agree with you about the parent....Bennie--I totally agree with you about the parent. I like the idea about asking the boy to shake Ben's hand. So far, we've just have very young curiosity, nothing malicious at all, thank God. We'll see how well I do when and if it happens.<BR/><BR/>No need to worry about giving me false hope. I pray for the best and accept God's will and where we are now. But WOW again! I love that! Go tell Ben that Gretchen and Simon love him and give him a kiss from us! We gotta get these boys together!!<BR/><BR/>Gert (the fish)Gretchenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14395850914692471354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458200.post-21192818598350464192007-09-25T18:52:00.000-05:002007-09-25T18:52:00.000-05:00G, I really don't want to give you false hope abou...G, I really don't want to give you false hope about Simon. There are A LOT of similarities - in fact too many to even begin to even draw comparisons about the two boys.<BR/><BR/>It took 8 years before actually began believing what we who spent most of our time with Ben were seeing. I didn't believe it myself until he began trying to communicate with us. THAT was the key.<BR/><BR/>It is easy to get angry when someone unknowingly confronts your child in the way this situation happened. Had I the opportunity to confront him again I would've done something much different like ask him to shake Ben's hand.<BR/><BR/>Like I said his parents or guardians should've stepped in and alleviated the situation and that didn't happen. That is one of the things I'll be more prepared for this weekend.Ben and Benniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12165216797183902071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458200.post-30059861092464889802007-09-25T17:54:00.000-05:002007-09-25T17:54:00.000-05:00P.S. if you need to, print off some of the medical...P.S. if you need to, print off some of the medical documents on www.pkskids.net. I saw in one picture you posted you had a poster with the logo on it! THANKS for helping with that too.<BR/>GGretchenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14395850914692471354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35458200.post-66271237420737575642007-09-25T17:52:00.000-05:002007-09-25T17:52:00.000-05:00WOW! It's sad there is such ignorance isn't it? I...WOW! It's sad there is such ignorance isn't it? I'm sure this young boy was a)showing off for his friends and/or b)so uncomfortable he didn't know how to act. Grandma should have said something though! An adult always should know better.<BR/>My greatest mission for Simon is promoting tolerance and yes, LOVE of the disabled. I want no one scared of him or afraid to talk to us, I want him loved for the sweetheart he is.<BR/>I am DUMB-FOUNDED at how well Ben perceives the world around him. I really think Simon has no clue (and I don't mean that meanly). I'm AMAZED at how you handled the situation. I have some "growing" of my own to do! I would have assumed Simon didn't understand and gone our way. Maybe I'm not as sensitive as I need to be, hmmm?<BR/><BR/>Hooray for the success of the day, both emotionally and financially (because, hey, it's not your fault people wanted to buy your awesome stuff!!) Hooray too for the exposure to the disability organizations. I'm one of those that are very unaware of my state's offerings.<BR/><BR/>Sorry for the long post :)<BR/><BR/>Gert<BR/>www.simonpeters.orgGretchenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14395850914692471354noreply@blogger.com