helicopter parents

[sturdypeasantstock]

As some of you may have seen, there are some threads on the community board about helicopters, snowflakes and the like. One woman complained that as a special ed teacher, she had seen tons of helicopters, etc. A group of posters, myself included, wrote rebuttals to her posts.

On another similar thread a poster vented about how schools reward mediocrity and parents use their child's disability as an excuse.

Then there are the threads complaining about little league coaches, etc. They should be grateful that their children are healthy enough to participate in these activities.

I'm so frustrated. There are threads I enjoy reading on the other boards but I can't handle the negative comments about people with disabilities anymore. Reading some of those posts just brought back so many unhappy memories of all the things that my DS has gone through.

 

[bookwormde]

A lot of poeple just lack any understanding, others are just ignorant and do not want ot get it. When you know that your child is highly likely to be damaged by the standard interfaces with society, it would be neglegent not to "hover" to some extent.

bookwormde

 

[kirstenb1]

I saw the comment on the teacups thread too. It rubbed me the wrong way, but I try to let it go, if I think it's a one time thing. There are several posters who I think are hostile to special needs kids. I call them out on it each time I see it.

 

[JACH1976]

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I seldom read the community board so I haven't seen these threads. But I have seen plenty of negative comments on the other boards and it gets to me too.

I've gotten more and more sensitive to the comments in the last year. I think since my DD's disability becomes more pronounced as she ages I am going through degrees of grief and acceptance of it. Having spent the past year struggling with some very ignorant and uncompassionate people at her former school, I am extra sensitive to the unkind and rude comments right now. I know I should just let them roll off my back because there's no use wasting energy and emotion on people who refuse to educate themselves, but that's easier said than done.

 

[irishsharon]

 

[mdvlprof]

I know I should just let them roll off my back because there's no use wasting energy and emotion on people who refuse to educate themselves, but that's easier said than done.

Sigh....Fortunately, most people I've come in contact with at least try to be understanding. But there will always be jerks.

 

[jodifla]

A lot of poeple just lack any understanding, others are just ignorant and do not want ot get it. When you know that your child is highly likely to be damaged by the standard interfaces with society, it would be neglegent not to "hover" to some extent.

bookwormde

Yes, I agree.

For my son, I just hang back, and observe as much as possible when we're out and he's with peers at a playground or pool or other activity. But I'm always in eye shot of him, so I can intervene if I need to. There are still times that DS can't understand the directions given to him in noisy settings, and then adults immediately assume he's not following directions on purpose.