[blindkid] Identify yourself please

[kala hjelle]

I only have a few seconds to write, but wanted to add a question quick that ties into this one...
 
SO many people that Lily (8 years old) has met before (some only once or twice) come up to her and say hi.  If she doesn't know who it is, she very politely says "hi! What's your name?"  Sometimes they tell her right away, but sometimes they do something that irritates me to no end and I don't know how to ask them in a polite way to stop or explain to them why I don't like it.
 
People who don't know her very well think she is amazing and they love that she can remember voices well.  It makes them feel good if they say hi, and she knows who they are.  So if she doesn't know right away and asks what their name is, they will say something like "You know me, Lily, listen to my voice and try to guess..."
 
I HATE THIS! What if every time you started talking to someone you had to guess who they were?!?  
How have other people handled this one??  I need some suggestions. I have said things in the past to people about it, and about not treating her like she is a baby, or like she is AMAZING just because she can do the simplest little things, (which feels so insulting to me becasue she can do so much more that they have no idea about) etc. and about countless other things, but I always get a look back like I am such a mean mom or just a rude person in general.  Does this just come with the territory of being a parent of a blind child?  Help please :)
 
Sorry for the spelling and grammar errors...I have to go, but wanted to quick get this in.
kala
 
 
> From: carrie.gilmer at gmail.com> To: blindkid at nfbnet.org> Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:45:28 -0600> Subject: [blindkid] Identify yourself please> > Hi All, Especially to our blind colleagues and friends.> > > > I have one thing with Jordan that has improved but still is an "issue". I> think it bugs me way more than him, and likely that is why it is still an> "issue".> > > > Jordan often does not ask people to identify themselves. It is one thing,> and understandable to me, when he is in the very crowded school hallways and> some voice calls out, "hey Jordan!" in a passing greeting and he simply> calls back hey-but has no idea who that hey came from and to not yell out in> a crowd "hey who are you?",> > > > But there are many times.> > At the state fair, in a store, even at a lunch room table!, where he THINKS> he is talking to one person and discovers mid-conversation that is not who> he is talking with (and never says anything or finds in the end who it was),> or we walk away from the teen working the register or who has come up in> Best Buy and said "hello" and I ask "Who was that?" and he says I have no> idea. I know that sometimes because he is one of 3,000 at school-and> because he has the one and only thing, a lot more people know who he is than> vice versa and sometimes he really doesn't know who they are, but not> uncommonly it is evident the kid who is greeting him, he should know, but he> doesn't ask. I know that sometimes he thinks it is rude, if the other kid> thinks Jordan should know who they are.the same way if I forget someone's> name and I should definitely know it, and I am thinking how can I ask> without offending?...But many times he is just too "shy" about it. I have> seen on the student list before threads where lots of kids are somewhat> uncomfortable with this one. Any strategies that you blind folks have come> up with to gain the confidence or decide when to do it? Is it just a> personality thing, because I know many blind folks who are not shy about it> and simply say, "Who are you?"> > > > Should I just let this one go now as a mom-especially since he is now a> senior in high school? > > > > 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> > > > _______________________________________________> 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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