Recently, Haflidi has found it more and more difficult to go swimming and take his prosthetics off where there are children that don’t know him. He is stared at a lot, some are curious and ask him a lot of questions and others tell him that his stumps look disgusting or they cannot look at him/them because it’s all so weird. This is all very understandable but I thought that it might be a good idea to put a photo of him here, so that those who see the photo could perhaps show their children/grandchildren and talk to them about disabilities in general.There are all kinds of other things that one can teach children from that kind of discussion as well like ..
♥ Nobody needs to feel sorry for Hafliði, he is just a normal boy, happy and healthy, he plays soccer and trains track and field. But he often needs consideration (regarding his disability), respect and empathy, just like everybody needs and deserves.
♥ To try and have the courage to always help those who are being attacked, criticised or bullied. At the very least never to take any part in it. Bullying is something we always regret later in life.
♥ That our eyes deceive us, they see only looks, the outer layer. They can never see what is inside a person’s heart. We can teach our children that it is always better and truer, to try and see people with our heart. Instead of focusing on how a person looks, focus on how you feel around, or about, a person. This will tell you more about someone, than looks ever can.
♥ That it is so great that we are not all the same. We all have something valuable to offer and we all have something that makes us feel insecure. We should always focus on our strengths and other people’s strengths and good qualities .. everybody has something special to give.
♥ That nobody is perfect and when we judge other people, we judge ourselves most of all.
♥ Everybody needs to be loved and accepted, everybody needs to feel that they are worth something, that they are ok.
♥ That the most precious thing we own is in our heart & soal, our inner light, and love.
♥ That you never lose when you are kind and respectful to other people, and when you are, you draw out their best qualities.
♥ That there is enough for everybody of everything in this world, we do not have to be afraid to give love, kindness, praise, prayers etc. There is more than enough to go around for everybody .. and every act of kindness we give, we get back multiplied.
♥ To teach children to look out for one another .. that is how the world becomes a better place.
“I have learned that in the end people will forget what you said and people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
4 Replies to "My disabled perfect son, Haflidi"
Natalie Peckova 6. August, 2016 (06:35)
Great words! 🙂
Kat 14. January, 2017 (15:10)
I grew up with an aunt with polio. She was (and still is) smart and funny, and I loved being with her. But I noticed the way other people would stare and look at the steel braces that propped up her scarred legs. They wouldn’t smile or say hello, just stare and sometimes whisper about her. I know this bothered her as it did me. As a mother, it’s now important for me to teach my kids know about differences. It’s ok to be curious but instead of staring, a smile and some kindness would be better appreciated. All the best to your family.
Lena 20. October, 2018 (12:12)
спасибо!
Olga 24. February, 2019 (11:39)
Ebba, thanks for the instructive story!