Letting Your Children Be Themselves Sometimes Results In Tons Of Stares

One of the things I love most about kids is their innocence.  They play, laugh and have no care in the world!  I'd much rather see the world through the eyes of a child.  What they see as cool and/or fun others see as weird or wrong.

Children have a pure and genuine innocence about them.  They say what they feel and like what they like.  Growing up you are learn that the world really is an ugly place and that the innocence is taken from us.  People are judged by their appearance, religion, race, and even sexual orientation.  Kids are able to love anybody despite their differences.

I try to teach my son not to be that way, and more importantly not to chance himself to fit into society.  I want him to feel free to be who he is, to wear what he wants, and to love everybody the same.

Monday he came home from school with a red bicycle helmet.  All the kids in his class were taught about bike safety and received a helmet.  He fell in love with it.  He wore it for the rest of the day Monday.  Then Tuesday after school he went straight to his room and put his helmet on again.  I really didn't think it to be odd, I just thought he loved it.

Well yesterday I had a lot of errands that needed to be done.  So I asked my son if he wanted to go and of course he said yes.  Wearing his helmet, he happily got in the car and was ready to hit the grocery store.  As soon as we got off the car, the stares started.

The sad part, all the stares were coming from adults.  They were looking at him like something was wrong with him.  They were looking at him like he was 'special.'  Well to me he is.  He is the most special boy I have ever known.

From the moment we left the house until the moment we got home the stares continued.  But my son didn't even notice!  He was just as happy as could be wearing his red bicycle helmet.  I hope that he never feels bad for being himself.  I hope that he will continue to wear what he likes and keep that smile on his face.

As for all those adults that stare a kids for being different, shame on you!  You should never make kids feel out of place or insecure.  Didn't your mom ever teach you that staring was rude?  It is so stop it!