Registered Blind, Mum of a 10 year old and new baby due in Feb

[BlindBint]

Hi,
Just wondering if any others out there are getting sick and tired of idiotic comments (Usually by elderly women) about me being a blind mum and pregnant, or if anyone has any thoughts on how to deal with these people in a way that makes them think twice. I'd welcome suggestions whether you have an impairment of any kind or not.

I am 29, and have discovered that a great way to deal with this is to have a few t-shirts with cheeky phrases printed on them. Two of my most recent ones are "Keep staring...I might do a trick!", and "Yes, I'm Blind. Yes, I'm Pregnant. GET OVER IT!!"

Best ones so far "I didn't think people like that were allowed to have children"
"Oooh, I bet that little girl has a horrible life"
and the most wonderful one came when I was STOOD UP on a bus (No-one would give me a seat), with my bump fully visible-two women were openly debating amongst themselves if I actually was pregnant or not. I was right next to them and could hear every word they said. They came to the conclusion that I wasn't pregnant, but I was wearing "One of those fake bumps, you know, like what they have in america to give to teenagers so that they don't get broody or don't get pregnant"

AAARRRGGGHHHHH!

I've only been Blind for 3 years! What was I supposed to do? Lock my daughter in a cupboard just because I lost my sight?!

Hi,

I'm not blind but registered partially sighted. I do also get quite annoyed with ridiculous comments such as "how do you cope?" etc - er, I just do... I quite often comment to people that being partially sighted doesn't affect my hearing (why do people speak slowly and clearly to us?)

Good luck with baby no 2, my second is due in May!

I'm registered blind (I have been partially sighted all my life and officially blind since I was 19) I'm very very shocked at the awfull comments that have been made to you! My dd is 17 months old and I've not experienced anything like this at all! I did horrify a bus queue when dd was about a week old by forgetting about the clear bus shelter when pegging it down to the doctors with the pram for the first time, and ramming it head on (didn't stick around to hear what they said about me!) I lived in London when I was pregnant, travelled by train, and bus every day and tube occasionally, and never once had to stand. But I would have turned round to the women and said "yes I am pregnant and I'm feeling very tired and uncomfortable, would one of you please give me your seat!" It never failed to get half the bus on their feet! I'm in Yorkshire now and find everyone so helpful wherever I go. its s bit of a culture shock from London... where abouts are you?

I have been told that my lack of sight isn't that obvious though and I just come across as mad or clumsy. I only use a symbol cane (and only when I can find it!) as I have enough vision to wander about areas that I know without doing too much damage.

I have to say that I lost all confidence once dd was born though. I used to do all sorts of mad things (like quad biking in the wilderness, without talling my guide about my sight issues, and nearly riding off a cliff) Now I panic if I have to cross a busy road with the pushchair! I took dd to soft play last week and it terrified me as I lost her several times, despite trying to stick to her like glue. The poor love is going to have to wear dayglo orange if there is ever to be a next time as the people I was with were not much help and she is a visually impared climber!

good luck with the baby and good luck meeting nicer people when you are out and about.

Thankyou so much for your replies,
I'm glad that I'm not the only one out there!
I live in South Yorkshire. I used to live in Manchester, which was horrific. I was hassled my my neighbours who accused me of pretending to be blind (Apparently because I don't "Look" blind, don't "act" blind or have a guide dog. One even said it was suspicious how it happened so quickly.....)

Wishing you lots of love,
Lynsey
XxXxX

Hi Bint (do you know that means a daughter in Arabic?) - I was wondering....how you read a computer screen or use a computer? Excuse me if I'm being thick or insensitive, but I'd love to know?

I'm in South Yorkshire too! I live on the outskirts of Rotherham. I see from your other thread you are near Barnsley. do you ever brave Meadowhall?

I have also lived in Manchester and think its horrific to everyone I didn't get the kind of hassle you did but we did get burgled in broad daylight on a very busy street. the police said they carried off my landlady's large TV down the high street but there were no witnesses willing to come forward. And my housemate got beaten up and robbed for being Scottish at the wrong time! Believe it or not I enjoyed my time there though despite all this. and it prepaired me a little for moving to London.

Hi Everyone,
Thanks for your messages, CaptainMummy-yes, I believe that is the case about the name, but I also like to stir up a bit of controversy whenevr I can! As for your question about using a computer, I have a special program that makes the computer speak. I have a similar system on my mobile phone that enables me to recieve text messages and text back. This always seems to confuse people who have often said "If you are blind, why are you texting?" I just reply to them that it has a braille screen....the majority of them don't even realise I am taking the mick out of them.(After all, how would you have a braille screen on a glass/lcd screen?!)
Entropy-sometimes I brave meadowhall (Or MurderHell as my DH calls it). We have a fun game called "Count the idiots" that we play whenever at meadowhall or barnsley town centre. We keep a tally of everyone who tries to do that funny little hop thing over my stick, instead of them going behind me or waiting just for an extra second or two for me to walk past.....
XxXxX

Hi BlintBint - nice to hear from you - I know i'm being a bit nosey, but how does your computer-speak deal with 'new' words, like when MNers talk about 'fanjo' and stuff like that? Do you get a blank? Or does the computer go 'word not recognised' like it does on my predictive text, and leave you wondering? Or does it spell it out?
sorry to be so inquisitive, but I am interested.

Nah, it just kind of reads it out. not sure how it works. emoticons confuse the hell out of it though.
I also have the option for it to remember new words.
you're not being nosey.

"The only silly question is the one that doesn't get asked"

Love,
Lynsey
XxXxX

Hi Blindbint

just stubled across your thread and realised that febuary is nearly over so I'm just bumping this to see if you had your little one yet?

Entropy xx

hello, my mate lost his sight at 13 and lives a fab life, really excited for you and your family with the new arival.
my mate has a web site called azzabat he transcibes things into brail does heaps of conversion stuff for blind people, but more than that simon is just an amazing guy to chat to, just say aj says hi. i hope all goes well with baby.

Hello, My partner is registered blind and we had our first baby in Sept 07. We have had a few idiotic comments from people, not from older ladies, but from younger people who haven't had children. The comments generally go along the lines of 'how will he cope!!' I don't think people intend to be rude, but they come accross as so offensive. Anyway we normally reply 'just the same as anybody else!!' The comments have worn off now, our daughter is only 7 months old, but I have no doubt we will have further challenges through peoples comments once we are at the school gates.

Hey Bint, hows it all going? I am surprised at how many 'sight impaired' parents there are out there. Mine is hereditary and we liken family gatherings to Stevie Wonder conventions!

Hope all is well with you and bab x