When my NM came to visit this last week, we got into a discussion (as much as a person can have a discussion with an N at any rate) and it involved kids with autism or kids who were retarded and such. I was saying that in the case of autistic children, we need to learn how they think, instead of trying to make them understand and adapt to us. As for children who are mentally slower (my daughter has a few in her class who are mainstreamed and she enjoys working with them), I have always enjoyed their sunny attitudes and ability to triumph in what they do.
My mother showed her disgust because "they can never be normal and fit into society." Now, tell me this, if a child only knows one way of life (the one he was born into) how can this be bad for the child? As usual, it is her selfishness she is talking about - that the parent would have a "different" child.
It pisses me off.
Love, Beth
