tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post8360921142483450817..comments2023-05-17T09:11:39.306-05:00Comments on This Heavenly Life -- Messy, Loud, Always Worthwhile: People WatchingThis Heavenly Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-90176891454487159852009-05-25T05:23:41.816-05:002009-05-25T05:23:41.816-05:00Personally I think it best to offer a very simple,...Personally I think it best to offer a very simple, brief explanation in the moment if it will not embarrass the other person. Something along the lines of, "some people get a kind of sickness that makes them do that. But it's not polite to stare, so let's finish our lunch and we can talk more about it at home if you want." But yeah, I wouldn't make a big deal out of the people watching if she kept doing it. Most people expect that from kids.Gailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00692366999970728146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-42587775784443640012009-05-24T22:08:17.547-05:002009-05-24T22:08:17.547-05:00This is such a tough topic. My 3 year old is too ...This is such a tough topic. My 3 year old is too observant for her own good, which sometimes means many questions and I am usually lost as to what to say. Especially when she asks those questions in ear shot of the people she is asking about. <br /><br />I personally think it depends on the child and how they are going to react to the situation. Are they going to comprehend what you're telling them? Are they satisfied with vague answers? <br /><br />After having a similar situation with my daughter at a restaurant 6 months ago, I have found that with her, the more I try to gloss it over, the more questions she has and the more persistent she becomes. However, if I just tell her right away and act like it's not a big deal...then she usually moves on and it's done and over with. She will sometimes ask follow up questions over the next couple of days as she processes it, but she's a nosey little one and I can't get by with vague answers. <br /><br />I can already tell that her little brother is going to be much different...much less observant (thankfully!!).<br /><br />Have you ever heard the Veggie Tales song: I Can Be Your Friend?<br />Great song for this topic!Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12246141663354161807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-58301355185531432382009-05-24T21:51:30.820-05:002009-05-24T21:51:30.820-05:00Hi Sarah! I think you did wonderfully. I have to...Hi Sarah! I think you did wonderfully. I have to admit reading these scenarios our children put us in is really amusing, because I can totally relate. Like you, I have a tendency to gloss over the finer details of sensitive topics (death, differences..) that arise and give the simplest acceptable answer. I always know when I've met that standard when the questions stop and the child seems satisfied. :) And, upon reflecting on it, it seems like this is a good measure for age-appropriateness. I've had something like this occur and I seem to remember talking about how God made everyone and that's why we need to love and respect each person even if it seems like they're different or silly, etc. This, of course, was after my first, insufficient answer of something like, "eating." :) Hilarious! :)Dianehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07756685881431328451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-5186056245799186072009-05-24T20:07:04.866-05:002009-05-24T20:07:04.866-05:00i think you handled it wonderfully. at three, prob...i think you handled it wonderfully. at three, probably anything heavy you tell her would mostly be lost on her. the way that you treat people who are different will speak far more to her as she grows up than anything you say to her (especially when she is so young).rebeccahttp://whatireallymeanttosay.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356238098880523445.post-39983230498524746392009-05-23T10:29:52.093-05:002009-05-23T10:29:52.093-05:00First of all, 'puffy heart love'? That is the bes...First of all, 'puffy heart love'? That is the best description ever. And my (almost) 3 year old is in puffy heart love with the mall too (which, ironically, we were at this morning AND we ate Chick-Fil-A! Crazy.) Anyhoo, in my opinion, the disabilities/people-are-different conversation is very dependent on how much of the concept your daughter would understand at this point. I think how you handled it was great, and maybe trying to discuss it at home is a better idea, where you can try a variety of different ways to explain it.Lenaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14128174350293301827noreply@blogger.com