Friday, April 11, 2008

MY SIDEKICK

It was BEAUTIFUL yesterday and so once again I dragged Ben out of the house to go grocery shopping with me. I love taking Ben. He's such a great side kick. Grocery shopping...THAT'S always an interesting time. Me pushing his wheelchair and pulling the shopping cart. You should see the looks and whispers that I get. Good times I tell you. Some will walk by and whisper to their significant other..."boy, that lady's got her hands full", (ya think?) or how about the ones that give you that sympathy smile? My favorite? The ones that steer clear from you - to the point that they will turn around and walk the other way. Someday I'll get the courage up to yell at them..."Ya...I wouldn't want to catch it either!" As if my child has something contagious.
Ben and I? We just chuckle.
People are funny that way.
(Or should I say ignorant?)

10 comments:

Ashlee said...

Gotta love a great side kick! :0)

Love your song you've got playing. It's one of my favorites. It always gets me. You know?

Gilbert Family said...

What a CUTE side kick he is too :)

Alicia said...

I hate when people make dumb comments, and the one, "looks like you have your hands full", I usually say, no, I like my kids. I get a little snotty some times.

Carol said...

When we were living in Hawaii and I was expecting Rachel I would get many comments about how many children I had. We went to a military function and it was obvious that I was pregnant. I was talking with some of the women when one of them said something about how I could be having another child when I had so many. I was not nice, I just looked at her and in a very matter of fact way said, "If you could see the beautiful children we bring into the world you would understand, we make the world a better place." I think I even turned around and walked away. When I was pregnant was not a good time to make comments about the size of my family or ask me why I was having more or anything about my children, if it was negative. We do become very protective of our children and I'm sure you have had your share of "ignorant" comments. People just don't understand the love and care you feel for Ben and what he has done and still does for your family. We all need to be educated and your thoughts and feelings help.

LL said...

your thoughts and feelings do help. I'll be honest, I would probably be one of the sympathy smile shoppers, unless I knew the person. I can't believe though, that people would turn the other way. Cute Ben, he does look like a great shopping partner--
As a mother, you do have your hands full, but your heart is even more full, RIGHT! :)

smart mama said...

sorry for the ignorance of others-that i know somedays is one more little hassle -Whenever someone has an obvious physical difference-people just don't know what to do--if they only knew right?
I try really hard to teach my children how to act- I am on the panel for the vascular birthmarks foundation- this probably one of the subjects I hear most from people on. When my son was 5 I took him with me because I was speaking at a conference in CA- so he was in the "babysitting area" with the conference attendees. Anyway may of the kids had very large hemangiomas, port wine stains covering much of their bodies, others had sydromes that caused a lot of disfigurement, some with cognitive impairment. That night I sat down to do "post processing" with him, just trying to help him understand more about the kids there. I asked him if he noticed any kids with birthmarks-he adamantly replied- "no mom I didn't see any kids with birthmarks there!" I had to chuckle some.
seriously we need to rig you up some sort of wheelchair cart, train apparatus-

Rachel said...

Education vs. Ignorance...that's what it is about. Good for you for educating the world - one grocery store at a time. How lucky for Ben to have such a great mom...and how lucky for you to have such a great son...and sidekick!

rachael said...

I would TOTALLY steer clear if I saw you and Ben coming down the aisle! Nothing against Ben--he's a sweetie--it's you that scares me!

Wiggles said...

Your sidekick is my favorite! People are afraid because they are ignorent and they are ignorent because they have not been taught to accept things and people who are different then them. Is tht a run-on sentence? this intolerance is what makes and keeps wars going.

Heather O. said...

You are pretty scary, Becky. You're lucky you have little Ben to make you more presentable :)