Thursday, December 31, 2009

irked.

was on facebook when i came across the topic of the use of a child leash. a friend had spotted a couple using it with their child.

and some smart alec who isn't someone i know commented that perhaps parents who use 'em have children with special needs.

another friend replied, saying that children with special needs can learn to be behave themselves, thus hinting that it is not an issue of whether or not a child has special needs.

i feel that both children with special needs as well as typically-developing children can have equally severe behavioural issues. so the deciding factor for the 'entitlement' for the use of a child leash should never be about whether or not a child has special needs.

i didn't post that up on facebook for fear of sounding as if i was going to kill the person instead of defending children with special needs. however, i have to say it here that i am upset that there are still people who think that "oh.. the misbehaving kids are those with special needs" (as shown through this incident). PLEASE. i think they have not been exposed enough to typically-developing children with challenging behaviour.

anyway, the smart alec whom i do not know defended her statement by saying that she feels for the parents and that parents would not feel good using it with their child so they must have their reasons (eg. safety). she then said she is not in favour of those who use the leash on "just any child" but for children with special needs, she doesn't know enough to comment though she wouldn't use it.

i just don't get it. what is with the special needs thing? why does she need to keep mentioning special needs like it is as though children with special needs aren't children? what separates "just any child" from children with special needs? and not commenting for children with special needs means that she does not entirely detest the action of using the leash on them (as opposed to being able to comment that she detests the use of the leash on just any child - i would guess that she had desperately wanted to add in the word 'normal') and does having a child with special needs mean that it is more acceptable for a parent to use the leash with her child? i certainly do not think so.

this is pure prejudice, in my opinion, and it's like saying if you're a typically-developing kid, you are most probably an angel, but those who need the leash are most likely those with special needs. of course i'm not saying that children with special needs are easy to manage, but there are difficulties with both typically-developing children as well as children with special needs and it hurts to know that people immediately link extreme measures (such as the leash) to children with special needs.

just my two cents worth of thoughts.

anyway, am also feeling sad for the victims of the hit and run accident by that notorious Audi driver who still remains at large.

and of course, i am dreading the assignments that i have to do before school reopens. it bugs me that i only have 3 more days to complete it, but i know that i would only be starting on them at the last hour. not too good a thing i know, but i really need to treasure the last few days of my precious last school vacation.

however, abby is always abby and abby is thrilled to receive two new rompers yesterday, and she loves them so :D

i can't wait to wear 'em :D:D:D will probably do so today!
bee at 1:33 AM