Carrie Link

I WON'T IF YOU WON'T

I have had it with people. As Jerry Seinfeld says, "People, they're the worst." Why does everyone feel compelled to tell me what they're really thinking about raising special needs kids? Guess what? I DON'T CARE! Go sweep off the dirt on your own back porch! So, I'm going to make a deal with you people, if you won't tell me what you're thinking, I won't tell you what I'm thinking! Deal? Deal!

• If you don't tell the mother of a child with Down's Syndrome that "at least she always dresses well," I won't tell you that you're a disgrace to humanity!
• If you don't tell me that "God chooses special mothers for special children," I won't tell you about the ten other students in my son's Early Intervention class that were wards of the state because their mothers were crack addicts and/or child abusers.
• If you don't tell me right after I tell you that my son has not gained a pound in four years, that your 3-year-old probably weighs more than he does, I will not tell you that your sensitivity level could use some fattening up.
• If you don't tell me that, "God never gives us more than we can handle," I won't tell you that I'm not handling "it", and at the moment, I'm not handling YOU!
• If you don't tell me that "The special ones are still with the angels," I won't tell you that you are the one that should seek help from the angels.
• If you don't tell me that your 3-year-old learned to ride a bike without training wheels, I will not shove the $695 receipt from the occupational therapist down your throat.
• If you don't tell me that your son is bored in school because he is just so darn bright, I will not tell you that your bragging is boring the hell out of ME!
• If you don't tell me that you "don't know how I do it, you sure couldn't do it," I won't tell you that I did not choose this life, and right now I am not choosing to speak to you.
• If you choose to smile at my child, I will be your friend for life.
• If you choose to ask me a direct question, I promise to answer you directly. I appreciate your directness, it is refreshing, and easily distinguised from idle curiosity.
• If you choose to let a child with special needs into your heart, I promise your heart will grow. I promise you will be forgiven everything if genuine care and concern show on your face. I promise.