Update: Thank you all for reading this diary and your comments. My seven year old woke this morning and wanted me to check to see if people were "listening" to her. As a parent, I'm proud of her. But as the mother of a special needs child, I'm elated. I won't go into detail about her multiple diagnoses; however, I've never really witnessed this level of understanding. And for her to still be interested today (this focus rarely happens) is almost more than I can take.
Continued Update:
She doesn't understand my tears. I'm actually having discussions with my child about meaningful things. A true conversation! I also want to tell you that she did not like when Gov. Palin and Sen. McCain were telling lies on her "President" either. She didn't think that was nice, but we didn't have a really meaningful conversation about this. She knows the difference between telling lies and telling the truth, so maybe that topic was easy.
Anyway, although I do admit to enjoying the fallot from the McPalin disaster, I'm going to try my best to model better behavior. I know politics is beyond her limited understanding, but I remain proud that she's been interested in the process, and perhaps she is really taking things in.
Thanks again.
Original Entry:
Family,
Although I know it is fun to wallow with the pigs on this subject, I want to share with you some wise words from my 7 year old. On the way home today, we were listening to NPR, and there was a fake interview with Sarah Palin. My little one asked me "was it real?" I asked her "why?" She said it didn't sound "real."
We went on to have an interesting conversation. I told her they were comedians and were just joking around. However, her response surprised me. She felt that it was "not nice" for them to "pick on" Sarah Palin. As we talked more, I told her that McCain's staff members were talking bad about Sarah Palin to the media, and lots of people who didn't like Sarah Palin were enjoying the fallout. Now I had to do a lot of explaining about media and fallout. However; after listening to me, her immediate response was, "but they are on the same team. We don't pick on our teammates."
She then went on to explain how her little league team cheers for the folks who miss hitting the ball. They also shake hands with the other team. They even shake hands with the people standing on the fence.
She is a HUGE Obama fan and has referred to him as her president for the past year. She even followed me to Las Vegas and helped to canvass for the campaign. She tells everyone "We helped Obama to win!" She also noticed that Obama wasn't "picking on" Sarah Palin. I asked her why she thought he wasn't doing that, and she told me "because he's nice!" She told me to put an exclamation point here.
Now, my child is a special needs child with both physical and mental disabilities. She has an IEP and receives lots of services. Everyday is a challenge. However, after this conversation, I wonder who's "special." She taught me a lesson by reminding me of simple lessons I learned as a child. So, even though I have enjoyed wallowing in the mud, I have to get up and wash myself off. I know better. If my special needs 7 year old gets it, then I have no excuse.
She's here with me as I write this. I have to read her many of the words, but she knows I "write" on the computer, and she wanted me to tell the people "it's not nice to pick on people." Believe me, she understands being picked on. Now, I'm not saying Sarah Palin is in the same category as a "special needs" child or anything like that. It just touched me that my "special needs" child understood what is happening. As her mother, I am very proud. Despite the challenges we face everyday, her reaction confirms that I'm doing something right and she is actually learning, not only the 3 Rs, but also about life.
We have been spending the past few days looking through the picture blogs, hunting print editions of anything Obama, and watching the news. Maybe this process has connected with something in her that will help her to continue to fight to overcome her challenges.
Anyway, I just wanted to share.
Thanks.