Oh the things kids say...

Last night it was finally cool enough to go out and do something. So, we took the kids to Settler's Park. There were tons of people there too because it was so nice outside. We had to laugh after we left, because we had a lot of kids come up to us and ask about Jordyn. Usually the kids just stare and occasionally ask questions, but we probably had about 5-6 kids ask about her. What is really funny is that children are actually more tactful than adults when asking us questions! Adults will usually say: What is wrong with her? What does she have? What does she suffer from? etc...
Kids will say: Why is she in a wheelchair? What happened to her? Why is she like that?
Ok, so maybe the adult questions sound a little better! I guess the only one I don't like is "What is wrong with her?"

The one that REALLY made me laugh was a little girl who was about 7 or 8 years old. She saw Jordyn, put her hand over her mouth, gasped, and then said "oohh, awww". It's kind of hard to explain what she sounded like, but she acted like she was going to cry because she was so sad for Jordyn. It doesn't sound funny, but it was actually quite hilarious and I almost laughed out loud.

On a more serious note, one thing I don't like is that most people don't even acknowledge the person pushing Jordyn around.... they will say stuff or stare like we aren't even there. ( I had a guy at the store stare at Jordyn for over a minute and so I was staring at HIM for a minute and he never once looked at me to smile or say anything. I thought that was strange.)

A couple other funny examples. One day at church, in our old ward, a 9 year old girl came up to me and Jordyn and said (in a very distraught voice)," Oh... what happened to her, is she ok?" I told her Jordyn was born this way and couldn't walk or talk. The little girl said,"Oh, I'm soooo sorry!" And I said,"It's ok, she's very happy and she'll be ok." She continued to say how sorry she was and that it must be very sad and hard to deal with. I couldn't believe a 9 year old was so upset over it and so caring at the same time!

I was at an appointment awhile ago and we were sitting in the waiting room. A girl game up to us, about 6 or 7 yrs. old, and starting asking questions about Jordyn: Why is she in a wheelchair? She can't talk? Does she know how to play? She was actually very nice and cute with Jordyn and was trying to play with her and hold her hand. Then she went back to her mom on the other side of the room and said (loud enough for the whole waiting room to hear!)... "That little girl over there doesn't know how to talk or walk! She doesn't know how to play either!" Then the mom proceeded to say (in a very loud voice also!), "God makes some people VERY special. Even though they are different they are very special and we should always be nice to them. You don't ever make fun of them, honey, that is very mean to do!" I think she may have thought her daughter was making fun of Jordyn, but she wasn't. Anyways, I just smiled and held in my laugh!

I love the fact that Tom and I both think that any "strange" things people ask or say about Jordyn is actually really funny. I think we are also lucky that we have never had anyone say anything really rude or offensive to us either. Strangers are generally very nice and polite to Jordyn and us, too! I am sure we will have many more experiences like these through out our lives!