[blindkid] feelings of blind children

[Alison Stephens]

I wanted to say, Arielle, I appreciate your comments about how you felt as a child regarding how your parents reacted to your blindness.  It provides some good perspective for me as a sighted parent of a blind four year old.
 
Right now my son does not know that he is blind, but I can see the wheels turning in his head.  He asks me about the paper I read stories from and yesterday he asked what was the purpose of some piano sheet music I was using.  The other day, a boy ran up to him and grabbed his cane ignorantly, and asked several questions about its purpose and about Nate's blindness.  I was very aware that Nate was listening to what I said.  I try to answer in an honest and non-judgmental way.  I often say to other kids that he can't see with his eyes but that he uses his hearing, cane and touch instead.  When asked why his eyes don't see, I say they formed differently when he was a baby.  I don't know if these are the best answers, so if anyone has any suggestions please let me know.
 
And in the future when Nate asks me about it, I want to be honest, yet not make him feel bad about it in any way.  Do I tell him that most people see with their eyes, or do I let him figure this out on his own?  I feel that telling him that fact might make him feel bad, but should he know?  I would think the gradual approach might be better.  As in some other topics with bringing up a child, maybe I should match the complexity of the answer to the complexity of the question?
 
Thanks for any thoughts,
Alison