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March 22, 2005
Sometimes your children can make you proud ...
Parenting is much more art than science. If you have more than one child it becomes readily apparent that what ever your game plan was for number one, odds are you'll have to scrap it for number two and reinvent.
And after you've spent years bobbing, weaving, cajolling, talking, laughing and trying your darnedest to pass on the values you believe are important, you still stand to the side, breath held, fingers crossed hoping you've raised a good human being. Sometimes, when you least expect it, you're awarded with a flash moment that makes you go "wow."
Last night Siobhan and I were playing with the twins and half paying attention to the television. Just reruns, but I'm hooked (to the never ending amusement of my husband, considering I work at a DA office) to shows like CSI, Forensic files, Cold Case Files (the real one), American Justice, etc. We had on CSI reruns on "Spike" TV. This was an episode where a skeleton is found and during the recontruction of a face on the skull, the victim is shown as a Down's Syndrome person.
Siobhan's face was one of shock. "Ok, mom, I know it's just a story. But how could anyone hurt such a person?" Not a short time later, the story shows the character in flashback, cruelly nicknamed "Stubby" and one of the other characters (who is later proved murderer) viciously ridiculing him and saying things like "effing REE-tard."
It was if a dark cloud went across Siobhan's usual sunny face. You don't really want to be on the receiving end of that look. Through gritted teeth she said, "I just don't understand how someone could act like that."
"Sweety, unfortunately there are some people in this world that find people like 'Stubby' less than human."
"Well, it's not right. I'll never understand. It's Just.Not.Right."
Please excuse me for a sudden flash of maternal pride. Boo* done good.
*Siobhan's nickname
Posted by Darleen at March 22, 2005 06:12 PM
Comments
Shows you doing the right things in raising her up. I recently had a similar moment with my son when he decided to watch "Radio". For most of the movie, he didn't say anything, although you could see the emotions on his face and most of them weren't happy. But at some point in the movie, he literally jumped off the bed yelling "he's no retard! That's mean! You take that back!"
God bless him.
Posted by: Drew at March 23, 2005 03:49 AM
Darleen, the same thing happened with me today with my 16 yr old daughter. She said that if she were a nurse at the hospice where Terri is, she would sneak water to her. I said, 'you would be arrested if caught." She said "I don't care. It is inhumane to do this to her. I would have to do what is right. Didn't Rosa Parks defy the law by sitting at the front of the bus?"
You Go Girl, I raised you right.
Posted by: Rightwingsparkle at March 23, 2005 04:18 PM
I had a similar experience with my son once. He had attended a party at a friend's house, which was chaperoned by his parents, those parents called me the next day asking if I was Paul's mother. My first hought was "Oh Lord, what did he do?" I answered, "Yes." The mother just wanted to thank me for raising a "good boy". (Of course at that point I thought she had a wrong number;-)) It seems my son was the only one of a crowd of kids who, after the party, introduced himself to the parents, shook their hands, thanked them for a good time and offered to stay and help clean up.
You couldn't wipe the grin off my face with sandpaper.
Posted by: Oyster at March 24, 2005 07:41 AM