[kimgilaby]

I just had to let you all know about what happened yesterday,

It has been a tradition for us as a family to go to a pick it yourself orchard each season with the kids since our oldest was about 2. We go for cherries in June, peaches in August, Apples and pumpkins in September and October. Ok since my husbands accident last November we havent tried any of that until yesterday.

I got up and it was a beutiful day so I thought, Why shouldn't we at least try right, so I called the orchard explained about the wheelchair( you have to take a bus out to the orchard ) and they said " Don't worry about it we'll take care of everything"

Well my husband was a little nervous tyring to figure out how this was going to work, so when we got out there they had these 4 guys ready to go lol. The bus pulled up and the one guy says " you ready" and they picked him up and put him in the back of the bus. When we got out to the orchard for the peaches they did the same picked him up and lowered him to the ground, then one of the guys stayed with yus and offered to push him through the orchard and another one carried the box of peaches for me. When we were done they did it all over again.

Heres the cute part, as we were riding back to the farm there were these 2 litt;e girls on the bus with their parents, I over heard the one girl ask her dad about the wheelchair and I heard her dad try and explain that some people sometimes get hurt so bad that they can't walk anymore. I didn't think that was a bad explanation right. So we get back to the farm and I was in line to pay for the peaches and my husband was watching our 2 girls and I saw the little girl from the bus walk over to my husband (she was 5 I found out later) and ask my husband what happened to him. Then she asked him and this was too cute, if she could push his whhelchair around lol. So with her parents watching he let her push him around the market. She had such a serious look on her face and when her mom asked her what she was doing she said " I'm helping him shop" lol The mother came over to us afterwards when all the kids went to play on thes huge slides and thanked myy husband, He just said it was better that she asked questions instead of just looking and wondering. This is the first time anyone has let their child ask a question and we have had plenty of staring happen, so I just wanted to share. Have a great day everyone.

[qbounce]

Nice share!

[kdenon01]

Awww. that is so cute!

[ParaforGod]

Not only was it nice of the little girl to what to help, but it was very nice of your husband to let her. Thanks for sharing.

[doublelibra]

When kids start pointng or asking about my wheelchair and the parents want to sink into the ground, I just laugh and say, I've got kids and grandchildren. Then I give a simple answer to whatever they want to ask, and the parents look relieved.

doublelibra

[longhaul]

But you didn't tell us how the peaches were, I love fresh peaches almost as mush as I love little kids.................thanks

[kimgilaby]

Peaches are always best right off the tree lol these are sweet and juicy but we have so many. We got a little carried away lol.

[Emily C]

Thanks for sharing...it's so nice to hear about parents who allow their kids to ask about what the w/c is for.

I was riding by a bunch of kids and I heard one of then say "That is cool"! I couldn't respond, I just kept on wheeling...IDK these kids, and I'm still learning how to respond to people. I've been shocked by what I've heard kids say around here! I would've been smacked if I said what these kids say nowadays!! Shesh..I sound so much older then my 35 years!!!

[Travelling Blackbird]

Emily C, on Sep 7 2008, 05:09 AM, said:

Thanks for sharing...it's so nice to hear about parents who allow their kids to ask about what the w/c is for.

I was riding by a bunch of kids and I heard one of then say "That is cool"! I couldn't respond, I just kept on wheeling...IDK these kids, and I'm still learning how to respond to people. I've been shocked by what I've heard kids say around here! I would've been smacked if I said what these kids say nowadays!! Shesh..I sound so much older then my 35 years!!!

It took me a couple of years to learn how to respond to people. It's an art!

kimgilaby, on Aug 17 2008, 02:35 PM, said:

I just had to let you all know about what happened yesterday .... Have a great day everyone.

That's a great story. The readiness of the orchard to think out a solution and the sensible answers of the parents were great. Good on your husband for being such a good sport with the kid.

Thanks for sharing, and have a great day yourself!

[disjointed]

kimgilaby, on Aug 17 2008, 08:35 AM, said:

The mother came over to us afterwards when all the kids went to play on thes huge slides and thanked myy husband, He just said it was better that she asked questions instead of just looking and wondering. This is the first time anyone has let their child ask a question and we have had plenty of staring happen, so I just wanted to share. Have a great day everyone.

I was always the kid who found people's differences intriguing and attractive -- from ethnic clothing to unusual hairstyles to foreign languages to disabilities or whatever. My parents attempted to condition to me to "not stare!" They always told me I would make people feel bad, but I ignored my parents and took the initiative to make friends with whoever I wanted to. It was about the only thing I ever did against my parents' orders as a kid, and not surprisingly I have always had very comfortable relationships with people of all backgrounds and abilities in my teens and adult years. When I met the guy I am currently interested in and he told me about his paralysis and related incontinence issues, I did not for a moment think that he might not be a good enough prospect for me. I guess all that "staring" paid off -- and I didn't stare, I respectfully looked at people the way I would have if they did not have a difference. Is it more normal to ignore the person of a racial minority or using a wheelchair? I just acknowledge others and treat them the way I want to be treated. And I absolutely hate when I see non-disabled people killing wheelchair users with kindness -- just treat everyone the same!

Following my gut has resulted in good luck making friends of all backgrounds. My circle of friends is like a mini UN. I love it. So do they. I have never let a language barrier get in the way, either. Human beings are human beings; we all share so much more in common than the average non-thinking member of the public realizes, and any differences can just lend an interesting new insight. I'm glad I defied my parents' wishes as a kid. (P.S. I'm doing it again -- because I suffer so many limitations and find daily things so hard and painful to deal with, a member of my family is strongly opposed to my pursuing a paraplegic -- has made for some heated arguments, but I will stand my ground and pursue the man that seems best for ME. It's my life, my relationship, my right to be happy, and no one knows better than I do what I need, how he and I ARE compatible physically with ADL stuff, and how if we are both willing to accept some outside help on the rare occasion he or I might need it, then who is anyone else to have a problem with us?!! )

And a note to the wheelchair user to whom the kids said "cool" -- I always thought of wheelchairs like other apparel -- some are stylish, some are not! Has nothing to do with whether or not you need a manual or motorized chair. A lot of chairs are very attractive looking, and the way a person moves can be especially attractive. Why is it that people recognize a sexy walk but have not declared that there are sexy rolls? There are! I've seen them I resent the all too common notion that a wheelchair user is somehow less attractive than if they were standing -- don't all people in the western hemisphere spend more time on their asses than ambulating? Yeah, so, it's apples to apples if anyone cares to notice that...

This post has been edited by CervInstabilityHMSandRSD: 07 September 2008 - 05:32 PM