Toy featuring disabled child

[CliveH27]

I have just had an almighty row with my wife over this subject, and would be grateful for opinions please. Bear in mind that my wife comes from a country where disabled people are only just starting to be accepted into mainstream society. She has lived in the UK for 8 years, and we have a three year-old daughter.

The row erupted earlier today when my mother bought something for our daughter. It was a set of figurines (my daughter loves making up stories), and one of the figurines is in a wheelchair. As far as I am concerned, this is perfectly normal, but my wife has been unable to accept it. Although she accepts that our daughter will mix with a full spectrum of children as she goes through school, and claims she will have no difficulty with that, she looks upon these figurines as having been made for disabled children to play with, whereas I see them as being for all children to play with, partly as a way of helping them understand that children with disabilities are part of mainstream society.
Is there anyone on this list who can help me understand my wife's way of thinking?

What country is she from? I'm shocked!

Is it the bus? My mum always laughs at that and says they have to be PC these days don't they? Well erm no. But unless you want identical little children, presumably you want some variety in your toys.

No the issue is to get her to understand your way of thinking!

Nope, sorry, as a parent of a child with physical and learning disabilities I can't understand your wife's POV at all.

Of course they are for all children, she is being unreasonable

Don't try to understand her way of thinking it's horribly wrong!

sorry don't get it
I have seen some lovely toys with dolls in wheelchairs.
so just like rl
??
don't get it

sorry just realised my post makes no sense. What I meant was, if you want dolls/toys to reflect real life...rather than identical little children

So she won't accept your DD playing with toys she feels are made for disabled children?

Why?

Welcome to MumsNet by the way Clive

nah still don't get this.....

I'd love to know the motivation behind this thread.

Well it wouldnt bother me at all. Its a positive thing that children are encouraged to think about disability. I hope it doesnt colour your wifes impression of your mother.

as if we don't know

I know, why not get some lego and build a little home for the disabled child to go into. Put her in and draw a big padlock on the door, then the other figures don't have to be affended by having to look at the one in a wheelchair.

are you expecting a fight with some buns 2shoes?

Make sure that said doll has all her financial support withdrawn won't you. After all can't be allowing drains on society.

How very odd. So, would disabled children not be expected to want to play with 'able-bodied' dolls/teddies/play figures then?

StealthPolarBear only with buns in wheelchairs9tis my birthday so bit tipsy)

Did the doll come with a free car?

All disabled people get free cars

I read it on a thread once so it must be true.

omg dd has an able bodied doll!!
(oh hang tis ok as it has a feeding tube)

^^
| | < ---- in that order.

happy birthday!! I originally wrote "bums" and corrected it, so not that odd.
Worra, the one toy the DCs have with a child in a wheelchair she is getting the bus so that blows that theory out of the water somewhat :o
Tho I assume she'd be too young to drive anyway...think it's a school bus

Why do you want to understand your wife's way of thinking?

It's not understandable, it's not worthy of trying to be understandable.its quite simply wrong.

ACT did that go horribly wrong :o

maybe its her bus and she's charging them all for a lift. And hiring a driver.
Hmm...initiative and self start.