[stylist] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #147- Don't Look

Tue Jun 30 15:30:09 UTC 2009

Robert and all, Over protectiveness does not only exist among parents of 
blind children, but it is the natural instinct of most parents.  I remember 
reading an article once about a woman who put her kindergarten child on a 
school bus for the first time.  It devastated her to cut that umbilical cord 
for the second time in her daughter's life.  You can imagine the emotions 
that ran through her that day.  Being the parent of a child impaired in any 
way those emotions are intensified.  Don't demonize the over protective 
parent, get them help like this child's teacher and let them learn along 
with their son or daughter.  There are plenty of parents that can be 
demonized now days, and their kids aren't necessarily handicapped.  Judith
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, June 28, 2009 10:53 PM
Subject: [stylist] New THOUGHT PROVOKER #147- Don't Look


> Fellow Writers
> RE:  Don't Look
>
> Here is my 147th THOUGHT PROVOKER. I enjoy looking back to see how my
> stories have changed as I have developed as a writer. (Can't wait until I
> really get good.) If you have not read the PROVOKER, it follows.  Recall
> that I collect responses and post them upon my web site for all the WWW to
> read and learn from and that URL is- Http://thoughtprovoker.info
> <http://thoughtprovoker.info/>   If you wish to receive THOUGHT PROVOKERS
> sent directly to you, just write me and ask, at-  newmanrl at cox.net
>
>
> THOUGHT PROVOKER 147
> Don't Look
>
> "Ohhh." a faint cry of concern squeezed out from where Meagan pressed the
> back of her hand against her mouth. Sitting at the kitchen table, she
> watched her ten year old blind daughter, Carrie standing at the stove with
> her Rehabilitation Teacher, learning to fry her first pancake. Meagan
> couldn't stand it, her remaining hand flew up to cover her eyes (one 
> bright
> green pupil peeking through parted fingers).
>
> "I think it's ready to turn over --- it slides when I touch it with the
> spatula." Carrie's tone suggesting both self-talk and an open question to
> the adult at her side.
>
> Pam responded with a question. "What do you think? How might you tell?"
>
> "Well, it's all one piece and --- when I put the spatula just a little 
> under
> it, it has that special feel of not bending --- if I can catch up with it
> again." The sounds of a spatula tapping and scraping sounded as the young
> cook worked to flip the cake over, before it burned.
>
> "You're doing great." Pam's calming voice was intended for both Carrie and
> Meagan. She wasn't worried about her student. However in working with this
> family, it hadn't taken long to recognize the over protectiveness of the
> mother. And from the get-go, she had encouraged Meagan to be an observer 
> of
> all lessons; though she hadn't yet noticed any major revelation on 
> Meagan's
> part that blindness in and of itself wasn't a major handicapping feature 
> to
> Carrie's abilities.
>
> Meagan, still tense, sat as quietly as she could. It always took an effort
> to not step in and help her daughter; watching Carrie searching for things
> or hesitating or fumbling with something new always pulled Meagan's
> heartstrings. Having Pam come in once a week to work with Carrie had been 
> a
> solution to a problem that Meagan hadn't thought could be answered, until
> she had joined a parents group and learned that there were professionals 
> who
> could teach independent living skills.
>
> Later, cooking and follow-up cleaning successfully completed, teacher 
> gone,
> the exultant Carrie was in her room looking for an outfit that she would
> wear the next day for a special outing. "Oh fudge buckets --- where did 
> that
> new top go?" She hurriedly fingered one hanging garment after another,
> sliding them sharply to the side, reaching for the next.
>
> "Darling, here, let me help you." Meagan stood behind her daughter, 
> reaching
> out. "Is it the fuzzy purple with the square buttons, that you want?"
>
> "Mom, please. I can find it."
>
> "Oh I know, darling. I'll just be faster."
>
> "Mom! Pam wants me to practice more, doing stuff for myself. Okay."
>
> "Oh --- you're right. I'll go and start supper. So if you need me, yell."
> Meagan walked out of the room, making a show of leaving. However, she
> silently paused, aligning one eye to peek around the corner of the open
> doorway.
>
> The next day- "Meagan, hi, coming in?" Said the woman walking up to where
> Meagan stood waiting and watching at the corner of a lighted, moderately
> busy intersection. Melinda and Meagan were both members of a local chapter
> of Parents of blind children. The parents had agreed to wait for their
> children in side a coffee shop across the street from where the kids were 
> to
> be dropped off. The idea being, the students would de-bus, cross the 
> street,
> find the shop, come in and find their parent.
>
> "Oh --- I'll be in before they get to the shop --- I just worry --- oh, 
> it's
> silly." Meagan knew her answer hadn't come across well; it hadn't even 
> made
> her, feel better.
>
> "Meagan," said Melinda, lightly touching her friend's arm. "The kids will 
> be
> fine. They've had training. These outings are to give them experience and 
> as
> they work to learn and perfect their blindness skills, they will struggle.
> It's how all of us learn." Pausing, reflecting, Melinda finished with,
> "Meagan, may I share with you the best piece of advice I have ever been
> given?"
>
> Seeing the acceptance, the need in Meagan's eyes, Melinda said, "It 
> was ---
> don't look."
>
>
> Robert Leslie Newman
> Email- newmanrl at cox.net
> THOUGHT PROVOKER Website-
> Http://www.thoughtprovoker.info
>
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