Why I’m Asking Your Kids (and You) to Stare at My Son

Dear Parents of Kids in My Son’s Children’s Church,

I’ve finally decided to put in the effort to take my son, Austin, to Sunday morning children’s church. I’ve tried in the past on and off, and either his medical issues were too much to deal with, or I couldn’t deal emotionally with seeing the differences in my kid and your more typical kids. However, I feel now is the time, and he’s ready whether I am or not.

After checking in last Sunday, I pushed Austin’s wheelchair into the dimly lit room where they hold the large group portion of children’s church. The kids in his age group — ranging from ages 3 to 5, as well as kindergarteners — filled the first two rows of chairs. I maneuvered him down the outside aisle and parked him next to a little girl. She immediately looked at Austin, frowned with fear or uncertainty in her eyes and shrank as far as she could in her chair away from him.

My immediate response was to choke back a sob and will away tears.

I smiled at her.

She did not smile back and would not look at Austin. I turned my eyes towards the teacher and pretended to listen until I regained my composure. Then I noticed a couple of boys and girls in the row ahead of us who kept glancing back. One boy in particular could not take his eyes off Austin.

He stared hard, drank Austin in, his curiosity unabashed.

And I loved him for it.

I’ve found that if I assume the best and invite that person to satisfy their curiosity, to ask any questions (including those that force me to be tolerant of what would normally be considered rude), to stare at Austin, to take in all his differences, not to feel like being curious is wrong, that child (or adult) will not be afraid of Austin next time they see him.

That child will be the first to smile at Austin and greet him. And that child has the potential to become Austin’s biggest ally and friend.

However, the little girl, if not given an opportunity to indulge her curiosity, will probably remain afraid of what she perceives as different. She has probably been taught not to stare or acknowledge differences and doing so would be offensive or rude. So without permission to overcome her curiosity or fear, she will instead avoid contact.

I feel sad for that little girl because… I am that little girl.

Our society has advocated (with good intentions) for so long that we be politically correct so as to not offend someone, even inadvertently, that I have become fearful if someone seems different from me. I avoid eye contact. I shrink back. I glance, realize there is a difference and look away as quickly as possible, pretending no difference exists.

But I’m curious. I want to absorb their difference. I want to stare. I want to ask questions. I could become their new best friend. But I live in so much fear of offending them that I will not even acknowledge their existence except maybe with a brief smile before I look (and walk/run) away. Out of my desire not to hurt them and because I fear I don’t know all the politically correct rules, I will avoid them.

And I don’t want people to avoid Austin. I don’t want them to escape his presence as quickly as possible. I don’t want them so afraid of offending him (or me) that they won’t even acknowledge him. And I don’t want to teach him to be hypersensitive and easily offended (like I can be in regard to myself or on his behalf). I don’t want him to live in fear like I do.

I want kids to see his smile when they engage him. I want them to know him, including all his challenges. I want them to love him. I want those barriers to be acknowledged, called out and invited to talk about. I want him to love who he is and be OK with discussing his challenges with other people (even if his mom is doing it for him).

So parents, please tell your kids to stare at Austin. Tell them to ask us questions. Tell them to be curious. And I promise to welcome your kids to Austin’s side. I promise to answer their questions with as much grace as I can muster. And I promise to love them like I want them to love Austin.

Sincerely,

A Recovering-From-Being-Easily-Offended Special Needs Mom

This post originally appeared on “Where are My Mary Janes?“

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