[blindkid] When your child realizes she's different....

[kala hjelle]

Carrie, I do appreciate you writing that your response was not directed specifically at me, but I do want to clarify what I wrote.  We do not think/act in a way that says Lily's blindness is the only reason she is different/special/unique. I think I wrote that we say it is one of many. And although we do think that her blindness makes her unique and is an important part of who she is, it is one of MANY, and she knows that.  I just wanted to share one way that Lily embraces her blindness (being able to teach people about it), which seems to help her not feel down or sad about it. 
The buddy camp sounds fantastic... What a fun way to get to know yourself!
kala
 
> From: carrie.gilmer at gmail.com> To: blindkid at nfbnet.org> Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:15:14 -0600> Subject: Re: [blindkid] When your child realizes she's different....> > I am going to write something here...and Kala especially since you are new> and do not know me I want to EMPHATICALLY state this is not directed> personally at you...what you wrote just reminded me of something and made me> think.> > I worked at Buddy camp in some way for 10 years. It is a camp where> everyone, campers and counselors are blind. Every year the biggest challenge> for many was that they were no longer "special" because they were> blind-EVERYONE was blind. They had to struggle to find what was special> about THEM. This I always witnessed was the best and hardest thing for many> of the children...above the skills, everything.> > Also I heard a blind woman from birth give a speech once how she was raised> to believe she was really special, really smart, really uniquely great. Her> Braille reading was special. Then she got to college and found out how> normal she was. It was quite a shock. Her reading was normal, that was about> it. It was really quite a shock to her.> > Also we have to be careful with totally blind kids to separate out true just> plain curiosity in trying to understand and figure out what sight even is> and is capable of verses true sadness at or doubts about blindness. It is> important not to mix those things up-they are two totally different things.> > > > Carrie Gilmer, President> National Organization of Parents of Blind Children> A Division of the National Federation of the Blind> NFB National Center: 410-659-9314> Home Phone: 763-784-8590> carrie.gilmer at gmail.com> www.nfb.org/nopbc> -----Original Message-----> From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On> Behalf Of Mindy Lipsey> Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11:37 AM> To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)> Subject: Re: [blindkid] When your child realizes she's different....> > I would definately suggest having other friends and role models who are> blind, so she doesn't ever feel "alone".> I also remind my boys that everyone has "something" - basically something> they have to "deal with".> I also tell them that God made us all the way we are for a reason. > Sometimes we don't know what that reason is yet, but we will eventually find> out.> Hope this helps.> > Mindy > > --- On Tue, 11/18/08, Amy Ruell <aruell at nbp.org> wrote:> > From: Amy Ruell <aruell at nbp.org>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] When your child realizes she's different....> To: "'NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List, (for parents of blind children)'"> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>> Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 12:12 PM> > Hello Stephanie,> I'm sure that those words were very hard to hear!!! Do you know why> she's> struggling with this right now? Maybe if you knew more, you could help her> solve the undrlying problem that is causing her to wish she could see.> Thanks.> Amy> > > -----Original Message-----> From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On> Behalf Of Kieszak, Stephanie (CDC/CCEHIP/NCEH)> Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11:45 AM> To: blindkid at nfbnet.org> Subject: [blindkid] When your child realizes she's different....> > > My 6 year old daughter has recently started talking a lot about being blind> and about her "acrylic" eyes, as she refers to her prosthetics. The> other> night, she said to me "Mommy, can you get me something so I can see with> my> eyes instead of with my hands?" I felt like someone had plunged a knife> into my heart! For you parents of older kids, was there anything you ever> said or did that helped when your child seemed to be feeling sad or angry> about being blind? I tried reminding her of all the other blind people we> know who also don't see things with their eyes but that didn't seem to> help.> Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Stephanie> > > _______________________________________________> blindkid mailing list> blindkid at nfbnet.org> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for> blindkid:> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/aruell%40nbp.org> > > > _______________________________________________> blindkid mailing list> blindkid at nfbnet.org> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for> blindkid:> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/mindy_lipsey%40yah> oo.com> > > > > _______________________________________________> blindkid mailing list> blindkid at nfbnet.org> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for> blindkid:> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/carrie.gilmer%40gm> ail.com> > > _______________________________________________> blindkid mailing list> blindkid at nfbnet.org> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for blindkid:> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/khjelle%40hotmail.com
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