Issues and non-issues

Like all parents, we have our off-days. Days when enthusiasm, devotion, energy, creativity, perhaps even love, wane. But we muddle through and inevitably we rally. It may be an article or a paragraph in a book, a scene in a movie, a chat with a friend or partner; something or other spurs us again to love and nurture our barely responsive children as though our life depended on it.

If you ever feel guilty about this, the article below should be the perfect antidote. Entitled "Yet Another Disabled Child Killed by Family" and written by a journalist with disabilities, it begins:

To be a disabled child, or a disabled adult who needs supportive care, is to know that your life is literally in the hands of the people you rely on to love and care for you. And those people may well think that murdering you would be doing you a favor.

You can see the full article here

One of the children mentioned, a 12 year old girl murdered by her father (tagged by some a "compassionate homicide") sounds like she functioned on a par with our C. Chilling. Read more about her, and her father Robert Latimer, here.

Robert Latimer (the murderer) and his daughter Tracy
(Source: Maclean's/Canadian Press)

With many children facing such real risks and many more denied access to sufficient therapies, to equipment, to a decent education, it's hard for me to get incensed over trivia - like this.

"Mom Heartbroken Over School Photo"

A mainstreamed, wheelchair-bound child was placed a few feet away from the rest of the other pupils in their class photo. He is seen leaning over, smiling broadly for the camera, in a clear effort to join his friends. It's clear, though, that the wheelchair could not have been moved any closer to the bench where the others were seated.

I can't see the great injustice committed here. But you may agree with the child's parents, the journalist and most of the commenters that this was an instance of egregious insensitivity.

“Look at the angle that he was in,” says New Westminster mom Anne Belanger, her voice a whisper as she fought back tears. “He’s ostracized. He wants to be part of the gang so much.” [Source]