Comments on: William http://adustyframe.com/2009/06/03/william/ I blog about what God is teaching us while my husband is in prison. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:45:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Kerri http://adustyframe.com/2009/06/03/william/comment-page-1/#comment-120325 Kerri Sun, 07 Jun 2009 19:26:23 +0000 http://adustyframe.com/?p=2659#comment-120325 What a touching story! I have a somewhat similar story. Our class had "Katie." Katie was "slow," but not enough to be in special ed. She was annoying, and she couldn't really relate to the rest of us and didn't play with us. Kids made fun of her sometimes, but the teachers seemed to keep things in check. Once junior high started, things started changing. She was much more interested in making friends, but she always wanted to get in with the popular group. They would make fun of her and humiliate her. My mom always gave the same advice your mom did. She told me that Katie couldn't help being how she was, and that I should always be kind to her. Finally, my Junior year in high school, a school organization had a girls' lock-in (slumber party.) We had all stayed up too late and we were testy. One of the really popular girls, "Lisa", started making fun of Katie. Of course, everyone wanted Lisa's approval and they joined in. Katie was in tears, but didn't know how to handle the situation. I finally asked the Lord's help, gathered my courage, and was the person to tell Lisa to knock it off. I was very afraid that she would turn on me and make me the laughingstock, but in typical bully fashion, she didn't really want to meet with someone equally strong. She backed down. That has always stayed with me, because it was probably the first time I had really stood up for what was right at a risk to myself. I didn't really know what I know now about bullies, so in my mind, at least, it was a risk! That was 20 years ago. Last year, I got started on Facebook and Katie found me really soon. She had filled out one of those Q/A things the other day, and my name happened to be on it. It said, "What is your favorite memory with (Kerri)? She actually wrote: "High School Lock-ins" as her answer! What a touching story!

I have a somewhat similar story. Our class had “Katie.” Katie was “slow,” but not enough to be in special ed. She was annoying, and she couldn’t really relate to the rest of us and didn’t play with us. Kids made fun of her sometimes, but the teachers seemed to keep things in check.

Once junior high started, things started changing. She was much more interested in making friends, but she always wanted to get in with the popular group. They would make fun of her and humiliate her.

My mom always gave the same advice your mom did. She told me that Katie couldn’t help being how she was, and that I should always be kind to her.

Finally, my Junior year in high school, a school organization had a girls’ lock-in (slumber party.) We had all stayed up too late and we were testy. One of the really popular girls, “Lisa”, started making fun of Katie. Of course, everyone wanted Lisa’s approval and they joined in. Katie was in tears, but didn’t know how to handle the situation.

I finally asked the Lord’s help, gathered my courage, and was the person to tell Lisa to knock it off. I was very afraid that she would turn on me and make me the laughingstock, but in typical bully fashion, she didn’t really want to meet with someone equally strong. She backed down. That has always stayed with me, because it was probably the first time I had really stood up for what was right at a risk to myself. I didn’t really know what I know now about bullies, so in my mind, at least, it was a risk!

That was 20 years ago. Last year, I got started on Facebook and Katie found me really soon. She had filled out one of those Q/A things the other day, and my name happened to be on it. It said, “What is your favorite memory with (Kerri)? She actually wrote: “High School Lock-ins” as her answer!

]]> By: Rebekah http://adustyframe.com/2009/06/03/william/comment-page-1/#comment-119973 Rebekah Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:00:22 +0000 http://adustyframe.com/?p=2659#comment-119973 What a touching story - an excellent reminder that we may never know how we touch someone's life when we are kind. What a touching story – an excellent reminder that we may never know how we touch someone’s life when we are kind.

]]> By: Anna http://adustyframe.com/2009/06/03/william/comment-page-1/#comment-119945 Anna Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:22:09 +0000 http://adustyframe.com/?p=2659#comment-119945 Wow, this was a powerful story! Thank you for telling it. I too will be reading it with my children today. Wow, this was a powerful story! Thank you for telling it. I too will be reading it with my children today.

]]> By: Jenn http://adustyframe.com/2009/06/03/william/comment-page-1/#comment-119888 Jenn Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:57:38 +0000 http://adustyframe.com/?p=2659#comment-119888 Ditto to what Ame and Celina said, from a fellow autism mom. My Nick can come off as a "William" on his more spectrum-y days. Regardless of a special need child's diagnosis or outcome, the bottom line - the heart of it all - is that parents wish more than anything that their child is loved and accepted by his/her peers. Nothing brings me greater joy than to see my son playing among the other children at the playground. When other moms at the playground are huddled together visiting, I'm the one sniffling in my tissue weeping with joy. Your mom is a wise woman. Thank you for this post, from the bottom of my heart. Ditto to what Ame and Celina said, from a fellow autism mom. My Nick can come off as a “William” on his more spectrum-y days. Regardless of a special need child’s diagnosis or outcome, the bottom line – the heart of it all – is that parents wish more than anything that their child is loved and accepted by his/her peers. Nothing brings me greater joy than to see my son playing among the other children at the playground. When other moms at the playground are huddled together visiting, I’m the one sniffling in my tissue weeping with joy. Your mom is a wise woman. Thank you for this post, from the bottom of my heart.

]]> By: Christy http://adustyframe.com/2009/06/03/william/comment-page-1/#comment-119828 Christy Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:18:01 +0000 http://adustyframe.com/?p=2659#comment-119828 Loved this, Lizzie. Will be reading it with my kiddos. Loved this, Lizzie. Will be reading it with my kiddos.

]]> By: celina http://adustyframe.com/2009/06/03/william/comment-page-1/#comment-119775 celina Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:13:00 +0000 http://adustyframe.com/?p=2659#comment-119775 as Ame said....its hard when your child doesnt have the required tools to be "normal" with aspergers (what jayna has) they come off as brisk, rude , to the point...and she gets defensive after a bit and it manisfests itself quite obnoxiously at time..sigh... so to those who are like your mom, THANK YOU...its very difficult to be the parent of a child perceived as this...and we are at such a loss....their true self only manifests itself when they feel safe and happy, so at home mostly.... we all knew you were brought up "right" lizzie....you exude grace. and i'm sure william picked up on it... as Ame said….its hard when your child doesnt have the required tools to be “normal” with aspergers (what jayna has) they come off as brisk, rude , to the point…and she gets defensive after a bit and it manisfests itself quite obnoxiously at time..sigh…

so to those who are like your mom, THANK YOU…its very difficult to be the parent of a child perceived as this…and we are at such a loss….their true self only manifests itself when they feel safe and happy, so at home mostly….

we all knew you were brought up “right” lizzie….you exude grace. and i’m sure william picked up on it…

]]> By: Barbara H. http://adustyframe.com/2009/06/03/william/comment-page-1/#comment-119756 Barbara H. Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:00:34 +0000 http://adustyframe.com/?p=2659#comment-119756 Unfortunately I have gracelessly to some "Williams" in my life. Excellent point, Lizzie. Unfortunately I have gracelessly to some “Williams” in my life. Excellent point, Lizzie.

]]> By: Sisterlisa http://adustyframe.com/2009/06/03/william/comment-page-1/#comment-119753 Sisterlisa Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:30:46 +0000 http://adustyframe.com/?p=2659#comment-119753 What a good story Lizzie. Thank you for sharing that. Well written too. There is someone I knew in high school that I still pray for. He's serving life in prison. :O( What a good story Lizzie. Thank you for sharing that. Well written too. There is someone I knew in high school that I still pray for. He’s serving life in prison. :O(

]]> By: Melinda http://adustyframe.com/2009/06/03/william/comment-page-1/#comment-119752 Melinda Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:05:10 +0000 http://adustyframe.com/?p=2659#comment-119752 What a beautiful yet painful story! If only we could see people as God sees them. How blessed you are to have such a wise momma! What a beautiful yet painful story! If only we could see people as God sees them.

How blessed you are to have such a wise momma!

]]> By: Ame http://adustyframe.com/2009/06/03/william/comment-page-1/#comment-119733 Ame Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:28:16 +0000 http://adustyframe.com/?p=2659#comment-119733 my special needs daughter can come across as a 'william' sometimes. i've had parents tell me how they have coached their children to treat my daughter respectfully. as a mom, well ... i cannot describe. i have no words adequate in this language to convey. my special needs daughter can come across as a ‘william’ sometimes. i’ve had parents tell me how they have coached their children to treat my daughter respectfully.

as a mom, well … i cannot describe. i have no words adequate in this language to convey.

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