My first three sons are totally opposites of each other. I can’t imagine life without them yet life with them is challenging to say the least. Back in my day as a child I think that children were labeled good or bad. Smart or in the turtle reading group. I am not sure there was the need to label children or “fix them.” I think that we were just loved and accepted as we were. Maybe our parents did not have all the resources we do now.
I am sure as a child I would have been labeled ADHD, with dyslexia and other learning challenges. I am sure I was labeled to some degree. I was in the resource room for reading (which made my undiagnosed dyslexia make sense). My teacher had a ruler and he would smack our knuckles when we got some answer wrong or were not following along (ADHA).
Erk! As I have watched the teachers in the Resource Room at the boys school, thank God times have changed.
There are many different kinds of children in the school. If I were to label some of the kids I know terms I did not when I was a child. They were just kids being bad. Now I have learned of children that have Asberger’s Syndrome, or a child that has dyspraxia, or suffers from childhood bipolar or someone who is ADHD. Children today have the advantage of too much information and yet not enough.
I think labeling a disorder is great. It allows for understanding and educating. It hopefully prevents unfair labels and hopefully gives some peace to a parent to help them know and learn what their child is living with.
Maybe when I was little there really were no bad kids… just misunderstood. I have learned so much seeing some of my friends learn to love the child despite the disorder. I have learned not to be so quick to judge a parent that is unable to manage their child. I have learned to support rather than criticize. I have learned to educate my self and my children. To teach acceptance and tolerance.
Robin is a young lady that was born with Down’s Syndrome. She was a teacher’s helper in our grade 1 class. The first 4 of my children had Robin in their class. They just loved her and accepted her. I love that they did not care or notice any differences.
They have learned this in their classrooms too. Each of them are different. Some may be louder, some more physical, some taller, some great hockey players, some pranksters… they are all different.
They seem to learn to notice differences when taught or watching it. Usually they wouldn’t describe someone by their skin color but rather a feature or clothing. “Did you see that man with the mullet?” Did you see that lady in the purple shirt?”
I love it. I love the lesson they teach me everyday. Sammy is ADHD… Tyler is obsessive compulsive and has anxiety issues, Jordan is ODD… I want to badly not be careful not to label them but rather love them and just accept them.
It has also taught me so much about the love of a parent. I am left humbled by the endless research, resources, patience and love I see around me. One mom said,” no I don’t wish my son did not have _________ because he would not be him then.”
What a great statement. That is what love is all about… loving the good, bad and ugly.