[il-talk] child question

[Bill Reif]

Hello Rob,

It's understandable that children don't want to stand out. That's why my 
son was happy to have me using a cane, rather than using him as a 
sighted guide, which would have been the only workable alternative. If 
she knows you can't consistently pass as a sighted person with or 
without the cane, she will know that your cane lets the public know you 
are dealing with your blindness independently. It will let the public 
know that it's not her responsibility to look after you, as they would 
otherwise assume if your blindness became apparent to them.

Even with a cane, I sometimes needed to fend off comments, directed to 
my then five-year-old son, about what a great caretaker he was for me -- 
this as I was taking him toy shopping. When your daughter knows that the 
cane represents your taking care of you and isn't about her, she will 
hopefully be relieved. Also explain that most people don't understand 
the purpose of the cane, and are staring more out of curiosity these 
days than out of pity.

Cordially,
Bill

On 8/22/2013 1:39 PM, Rob Kaiser wrote:
> Hello all. As most if not all of you know, I am a guardian of a nine yearold girl.
>
> Since I have come back out to Socal, and, more than likely, will be staying here, I am spending more and more time with her.
>
> I am, however, incurring a problem: My daughter seems to be imbarrased about the fact that I use a white cane. I along with my x-wife have tried to explain to her that it is a necessity for me to use it.
>
> Has anyone out there come across this problem? If so, can you please help me and give me some suggestions in how to deal with this as I will be spending more and more time with her and in many instances, will be in the public eye with her.
>
> You can email me or call me @ cell#(847)989-0768.
>
> Thanks.
>
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