In the Goodwill last weekend (our favorite local hangout, haha!) Johnny was happily checking out the videos. He pulled out a Sesame Street video and very excitedly exclaimed, "Look! Sesame Street!!" to no one in particular.
He turned then, to a man standing right next to him also looking at the videos, held up his find and exclaimed again, "Look! Sesame Street video!" The man ignored him.
Undeterred Johnny patted the man on the back, held his video up and said louder, "Sesame Street!" His smile was huge and happy. The man turned and walked away.
By this time I reached Johnny's side and knelt down next to him.
His smile was gone and discouragement filled his face as he told me, "Awww, man no listen me!"
I stared at the turned back of the man walking away and held on to Johnny, feeling angry and sad...but mostly angry. Johnny finally pulled back to show me the smiling faces of Bert and Ernie, his smile returned and all was well with the world again.
But it wasn't okay with me. I didn't say anything to the man. In my mind I hoped that maybe he just didn't hear Johnny. Or feel him. Or see him. Maybe he just doesn't like children. Maybe he was in a rush and didn't want to engage in a conversation. Maybe he is a man struggling with his own issues and/or maybe he is just naturally inclined to be unsociable with strangers.
Maybe.
Those are the maybes that keep me going because it hurts my heart too much to think that he ignored Johnny because Johnny has Down syndrome. It hurts too much to be reminded of the people in our society who are so ignorant, so inconsiderate, so hurtful and so prejudice.
My dream is that my beautiful son will find his way in the world without experiencing the pain of thoughtless people. I hope that that he will be able to grow beyond that and understand that some people just go through life without thinking about the affect their actions and words (or lack of action and words) have on others. They are the same dreams and hopes I have for all my children, and for yours.
I guess it's a good time to start October, National Down Syndrome Awareness month, and hope that maybe we can change people...one person at a time.
4 comments:
People are so ignorant! Johnny is just a kid....it happens that he has Downs but that is sad that people see that first and don't want to see the person. I suppose that's a struggle he will have to deal with his whole life. The world is full of mean, ignorant people. It's a lesson for us all. Great post...
That sucks Cindy. I don't know how anyone could ignore Johnny. He is so cute!
Awe, poor, sweet Johnny. I'd like to think that perhaps that person knows nothing about D.S. and simply felt awkward. Maybe he thought he had to talk to Johnny differently and felt insecure because he didn't know how. I know there are people out there who don't know how to talk to children and clam up the second children engage them. Hopefully and I think most likely, he wasn't intending to hurt J's feelings. Maybe the man got in his car and felt like a turd. I have a second cousin who has D.S. and when I was younger, the second he spotted us, he wanted to show us his record collection and wanted us to try on his uber cool boots. My brother and I were happy to check him out, but there were family members who ran the other direction the second he walked in the room. These particlar people had parents who were also awkward around him. I'm not saying it's fair. I would be upset, too. Because no matter what Johnny's feelings were still hurt. I'm so sorry that more people are not aware, Cindy. I support you in bringing awareness to those who are ignorant - perhaps this is why God handed you this gift. Thanks for *forcing* me to read. Johnny gets more handsome with every new picture I see.
Give Johnny a big hug for me!!
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