It always gets like this in the summer holidays.. the parks and play areas are crowded and there is always that minority of little shites who have to be horrid to DS.
I was sitting on a bench in the play area at the park today (as opposed to hovering over DS to help him use the equipment because DD was with us and although she is the same size/weight as him, she is great at helping him!) and saw her having a conversation with a little girl and both of them looking at DS. DS had got his foot stuck so I jumped up to help him in time to hear DD saying hotly "He is my brother and he's NOT ugly!"
The kid was only about 5 or 6 but most five or six year olds don't seem to feel the need to be so horrible to him! It's just the odd few.. and this time of year it happens almost every time we go out somewhere like this. Why can't parents explain to their kids about disability and differences? Is that really too much to ask??
I found myself trying to be objective and asking myself "IS he ugly?" but I'm sure he's not.. his blonde, blue eyed, and cute.. even if he is 7 and still obviously in nappies (which tends to poke out top of his shorts when he's climbing!) and he wears a protective helmet, and dribbles. But surely that doesn't make him ugly! And even if he did have dysmorphic features, children ought to be taught not make nasty remarks!
I can handle questions.. "why is he wearing that hat? What's the matter with him..?" etc etc.. but not the beastliness. He wasn't aware.. but I was.. and so was DD!
And when am I going to learn to "rise above it all" like parents of SN children are probably supposed to! I seem to remember each and every incident.. from his being called "moron" and "stupid" to even being laughed nastily be parents! He is so sociable; he just goes up to people and says hello and fortunuately doesn't seem to notice when people are being nasty or rejecting him. But DD and I notice.
I bloody hate it!
Right. Rant over.