I will tell you a story that involved me sticking up for someone being
teased only about three years ago or so. I was at my friend's daughter's Head Start
facility, waiting for her to get out of her class. There was this little boy,
maybe about three years of age, who was still in diapers. I heard the teachers
talking out in the open about it. They said his mom sent him in diapers because
some medication he was on was giving him diarrhea. The little boy was crying
because he needed his diaper changed, and one of the teachers harshly said to
him in a loud voice, "You need to wait and be quiet. You should not even
be wearing diapers anyway. You're too old."
My heart ached for the boy because I
knew how he felt, and the poop was likely irritating his bottom, especially if
it was diarrhea. I had enough of this bullying and ignorant behavior, and I was
determined to show these moronic teachers that age does not determine when
someone does or does not wear diapers. I was unable to stand by any longer and
watch this go on and walk away and do nothing. I am not one who can stand by
and silently watch injustice. I have to get involved. The Bible says so,
anyway.
I jumped up from where I was
sitting, swung my diaper bag over my shoulder and opened it up. I pulled out
one of my diapers in full view, saying, "You know? I got an F in toilet
training! I am 26 and still have to wear diapers. I have a medical problem. I can't
control my bladder at all, and I sometimes poop myself. So, stop bullying that
little boy and change his diaper, so he can be comfortable. I know how it feels
to sit in diarrhea when I do it on myself and can't get to a place to change
fast enough. If I knew who his parents were, I’d tell them how you are treating
their child. You should be ashamed of yourself!" I said it loud enough so
all the parents, staff and anyone else could hear, and I swung my diaper around
in the air, so all could see it. Everyone was silent. I had the attention of
all in the waiting area.
Seconds after my outburst, the boy
was taken into the bathroom and changed. Other teachers and parents came up to
me and asked me about how incontinence impacted my life. I politely answered
their questions. I also got a number of comments from other parents and
teachers about how brave I was and how I’d be one who stands up and makes
changes for the better someday. I also got a few hugs from some.
I felt so proud of myself. Not only was it a teachable moment, it was a
moment when I could stand up for someone who was helpless and could not stand
up for himself. Children are the most helpless people of them all, and I cannot
stand by and watch one get mistreated without doing something.
3 comments:
Thankyou so much for sharing this blog, you are an inspiration and I am so glad you stood up for that poor boy. People can be so ignorant!
(I found you on alysonschafer.com and I thought your message there was very inspiring also)
Wow..just WOW... I am open with people now about my past issues to a point in order to spread awareness.. but i would NOT have the guts to do what you did here! you are very brave!! And im sure that boy thanks you!
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