Comments on: My Theory of Relativity

By: Marjorie

Marjorie — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:56:01 +0000

This is a great post. I especially like the “It’s Not Actually True. Maybe. If You Asked You Would Know For Sure.” That speaks so truly to the life of disabilty on all levels. Thanks

By: Sheri

Sheri — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:07:46 +0000

I have to respond by saying… you know how to shoot from the hip… and say it like it is! I find it is the same well meaning person who says “You’re so inspiring” in one breath, then turns their nose up when six year old soils his diaper in church, or does not want to take his hand when offered because he drools too much on it.

By: deb

deb — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:35:24 +0000

I have a handicapped daughter as well and get that a lot. You put it very eloquently.

By: Leanne

Leanne — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:52:47 +0000

Hi, I’ve been reading you for a while and wanted to comment on this post. You’re such a beautiful writer and it just pulled me right in. I often have people say “I don’t know how you do it.” and other such nonesense. The one that gets to me the most is “you must have been chosen to be his mother because you can handle it.” Often I respond to that by saying, “if he was your son, you’d handle it too!” and some people get what I’m saying then.

My son is autistic. I hope I’m never caught saying to a parent with a child who has a different difficulty, “I feel lucky because my child doesn’t have…”

I, too, want to have, am open to having, an indepth conversation with anyone who’s curious. I try to appear open to honest questions. Instead of telling me how I feel or what I face I really, really, want people to ask me!

Sorry for the ramble. I go on and on like this IRL too!

By: jennifer

jennifer — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:18:22 +0000

Hey Louise,

Sure – I don’t think you’re wrong. Well-meaning people say awkward, regrettable stuff all the time. Myself included :) In this post I am simply exploring how I feel when I hear it… I would also say that while there’s not necessarily a single right way to connect with me, there is most definitely a wrong way: an inauthentic attribution of superhero qualities on to me that only serves to mask fear underneath. Don’t get me wrong – nothing wrong with fear! But I’d rather connect about what’s real, not what ‘sounds right’ (which in the end only gives comfort to the person saying it).