[blparent] Older Kids and Interaction with the Public

[Star Gazer]

				"no" is always an acceptable answer. I'm not
sure I'd have let the trucker buy a treat, I personally got a creepy vibe
when I read that, coupled with what to me is an inappropriate use of the
word "bless". 
It isn't your job to keep niceness going, I tend to think the world is a
pretty nice place, and I'm wondering why you feel differently, and if that
feeling is why this bothers you. 

-----Original Message-----
From: BlParent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jo
Elizabeth Pinto via BlParent
Sent: Friday, June 17, 2016 12:26 AM
To: Blind Parents Mailing List <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Jo Elizabeth Pinto <jopinto at msn.com>
Subject: Re: [blparent] Older Kids and Interaction with the Public

There, Jen, you hit the nail on the head.  I didn't want to shut down
well-meaning people who were trying to be nice to my child, and I didn't
want to snuff out good in a world that seems to have more rudeness than
manners in it most days as it is.  On the other hand, I didn't like
furthering the impression that my daughter was helping her poor mother make
it through the big bad world, bless her heart.  The whole situation put me
on the spot, which is why I wondered how others had dealt with it.

I, too, will look up the book Rebecca suggested.

Jo Elizabeth

"The Bright Side of Darkness"
is my award-winning novel,
available in Kindle, audio, and paperback formats at Amazon.com.
-----Original Message-----
From: Jennifer Bose via BlParent
Sent: Thursday, June 16, 2016 10:04 PM
To: Blind Parents Mailing List
Cc: Jennifer Bose
Subject: Re: [blparent] Older Kids and Interaction with the Public

Hi, everyone.

This is a tough one, JoElizabeth. Here's my reading of it: People are
well-meaning, and they have all kinds of thoughts about blindness and how
vulnerable they would suddenly be if they couldn't see, or if they had any
other disability. I understand that better than I used to. I'm glad both
individuals asked you before they treated your daughter to something. It's
probably an individual thing in this situation. I could be accused of being
proud and independent here, but their behavior strikes me as irritating. I
don't mind my children talking to strangers when I'm nearby, and I'll go
read what StarGazer suggested. Nevertheless, as I see it, we didn't have
children in order to depend on them for help. As blunt as that sounds, I
actually had a woman remark to me when I was expecting my daughter Abigail: 
"Oh, that's so sweet. She'll be such a help to you." Ick!! I would just set
up a rule that Mom or Dad are the only ones who will buy treats for the kids
if we're out, and I would politely communicate that to strangers who want to
reward kids for their heroism in dealing with their burdensome blind
parents. A little snarky for me, but there you go.

Jen


Sent from my iPhone

> On Jun 16, 2016, at 8:40 PM, Star Gazer via BlParent 
> <blparent at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>
>                You all really need to read Gavin Debecker's book, 
> Protecting The Gift. He explains the flaw in the argument "never talk 
> to strangers" since everybody is a stranger until you get to know 
> them. He talks about how to teach kids, and how they can trust their 
> instincts so that they can evaluate people and situations 
> appropriately. It's wonderful material.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BlParent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
> Roanna Bacchus via BlParent
> Sent: Thursday, June 16, 2016 5:35 PM
> To: Blind Parents Mailing List <blparent at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Roanna Bacchus <rbacchus228 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [blparent] Older Kids and Interaction with the Public
>
> Hi Jo Elizabeth thanks for your message.  I only except help from 
> someone when I need it.  I think these individuals were just trying to be
helpful.
> You should just enjoy it for what it is but teach your daughter never 
> to talk to strangers.
>
> _______________________________________________
> BlParent mailing list
> BlParent at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> BlParent:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/pickrellrebecca%
> 40gmai
> l.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> BlParent mailing list
> BlParent at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> BlParent:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/jen10514%40gmail
> .com

_______________________________________________
BlParent mailing list
BlParent at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
BlParent:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/jopinto%40msn.com 


_______________________________________________
BlParent mailing list
BlParent at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
BlParent:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/pickrellrebecca%40gmai
l.com