I took this from Stacy’s Facebook:
“When a person is having difficulties with their child especially if they are disabled–please do not stare or whisper–offer to help. I have enough to deal with on a daily basis without people staring at me like I am an unfit mother.”
It saddens me that somebody made Stacy feel this way. I am probably going to ruffle some feathers by saying this, but there are plenty of unfit mothers out there. Stacy is not one of them. Far from it. For almost ten months Stacy has been by James’ side every day. Day in and day out, she is his primary caregiver. Yes, I am there to help when I am not at work or sleeping, but the remaining hours of the day it’s all Stacy. Raising a child is hard. Raising a disabled child is harder.
But let’s be honest for a minute here. I might have been one of those people to stop and stare and whisper a rude comment to whomever I was with. Have you? Be honest. Now that I have heard and seen how it affects the person on the other side of that stare, I am ashamed. Perhaps this is one of those learning moments. One of those moments that make you want to change. To be a better person.
You have no idea what the person is going through at that moment in time. A simple gesture, or an offer to help, could make their day. Just a simple act of kindness.
