[momraine]

What is the biggest issue, you face with your child, or your child faces in the world?
My son's biggest issue is that people assume that because he is in a wheelchair, he can do no wrong, and they also assume he is younger than he is and mentally handicapped. The first makes me crazy, becuase he gets away with bad behavior at school, and the second drives him nuts. LOL

[Lylac]

Right now for L, it would have to be that she's VERy trusting in others, has no stranger danger, and does not even comprehend what being mean is. She'd have no idea that someone was trying to hurt her.

With B, it would be, although he's 4 and is the size of a 2 year old, people don't understand that mentally he's about a 1 year year old. He understands what you say, and people talk to him like he can't understand.

I know it's frustrating for him, cuz it is to me.

[bajj]

I don't have a child with a physical disability. I have worked with children with physical and emotional disabilities. I have to say, people in the "everyday" world don't get how "normal" (whatever normal means) kids with disabilities are. They are children and will behave as children!

Yes, they will be sweet and smile and sugary and yes, they can misbehave as well.

I run into the opposite. I find people who automatically assume my children will be behavior problems, and just because they are adopted. That irritates me! When they misbehave I have heard someone whisper, "well, you know he's adopted." I said, "you know, he's a boy and acting like a typical boy, and a typical child at that."

I also have the opposite of your 4 year old being the size of a 2 yr old. My 2 yr old literally is the size (or height) of a 5 yr old. He is very very thin, but very very tall. People assume he should act older and wonder why he "acts like a baby." He doesn't act like a baby, he acts like a 2 year old!

I think people just have to have a reason to blame someone or something for everything children do.