Differences, and how to address them with a young child.....

[aunt_becca]

Something that I’ve been thinking a lot about lately is how to address the issue of illness, disability, and people who for whatever reason look “different” to Ben. A few months ago, Ben and i were taking a walk. A Little Person walked past us, and we said hello. Be stated that “he looks like a kid and an adult. Which is he?” I explained that he

Comments

[yeishlitikvah]

This reminds me of my former student who at one point had been out with their mother and loudly asked 'why a lady looked like an alien?' Apparently the question wasn't that far off the mark.

I would start explaining about how there are certain things we don't say in public/don't say loudly/don't want to hurt someones feelings. In this vein yesterday my daughter was talking LOUDLY in a small store in Boro Park about how she'll get earrings when she poops on the potty.smh

The answer that I sometimes use, which is a total copout 'Hashem makes everyone differently' or 'this is how Hashem wants that person to be.' We've had family with cane/walker/wheelchair so it doesn't really dawn on Nechama. We kinda just explained it as they need it to walk, etc