Because my wife had something important to do yesterday I went up to my 4 year old daughters school to pick her up and the kids acted so disrespectful and ill mannered they treated me like I was some kind of alien from another planet or better yet they treated me like I was the Elephant man or something I had a really bad experience yesterday those kids probably never saw anybody like that before but I was disturbed by their lack of respect and this is of course a pre-dominatley african american school in the inner city, I have been to a school that was pre-dominately white before and I never recieved such a disrespectful greeting before, Do I blame these kids for acting like that or should I blame the vitiligo because by it being so rare most people especially kids have never saw anybody like this before or should I blame myself for not going up to my kids school as much, please get back to me and let me know your feelings about this I'm eagerly awaiting your responses because I want to know if anybody else who has small children ever had to go thru this !!!!
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Yeah kids don’t hold anything back... I remember wanting to pack a leather belt in my purse...rolmao! Its embarrassing and awkward especially when your on a mission and the last thing on your mind in your physical appearance. I remembering wanting to avoid kids, because you just never know what’s going to come out their mouth. Adults will stare too, but I will gladly curse them out for any dumbness, kids on the other hand is different. Funny part is when they ask "what’s that on you skin" and I tell them I lost my color or its “just” my skin. They say "OH" as if they really understand and move on.
Ciney I even had a kid ask me could he get a brown crayon and finish coloring my color in for me,I thought that was so cute of the kid to even mention that and to this day I still laugh when I think of that experience........lol
I remember one summer afternoon sitting on a deck next to a lake and a young boy from a neighboring cabin came racing up the steps to cross it. He stopped short when he saw me. I could see the total fear in his face and his eyes. I felt so badly for him as I love children so dearly and hate to see them afraid of me. I smiled at him and told he was free to cross the deck and to have fun with his friends, and then I went back to my business at hand. He turned and ran off the other way.
I think this is the part that bothers me the most about Vitiligo. I teach in an elementary school and I love children so dearly. My students are very comfortable around me, and the younger ones are always open and comfortable about asking me what is wrong with my arms. I just always feel so sad, though, when I see children frightened of me because of the way I look.
I am so very sorry that you and others have to deal with this type of attention! I would say that it is mostly ignorance on their part. Children, especially that young, haven't learned or have not been taught the proper ways to respond to things they have not seen before. Perhaps it would be possible to ask the principal or your child's teacher to make a point to educate these children on Vitiligo! Education on all topics is the key to understanding and acceptance! God bless you!
Kids ask me all the time what happened to me,if I've been burned. I figure kids are the most curious so I tell them about vitiligo. Mostly they understand but I never view them as rude or inconsiderate.
I did encounter a person who would not shake my hand upon an introduction.I was going to sell him my 59' Vette to him for a pretty good deal.I politely closed the garage door and went back into the house. I figured "what the hell" I need a nap. I guess I can be a jerk too but I'm not contagious. That guy lost the sale to a gentleman who was more polite than myself. : )
Hey Poco I don't blame you, I probably would of done the same thing too, people can act so ignorant at times I understand a child because they are curious like you said but when and adult acts that way it makes you angry at their stupidy or their ignorance, damn I wish you would of sold the Vette to me Poco.....lol
When it comes to kids I always give them the benefit of the doubt because they do not know any better. When you walk past any youngster offer a smile,they always smile back.
I feel very fortunate to live in the Denver area. Most people are so preoccupied with daily errands and complacent with usual routines. I keep a low profile and go about my daily business. So no one notices.Unless I'm at a cafe or some place of business,then people have time to notice or stare. I'm very easy to approach anyways so I answer questions if they have them.
Mentally I'm past all the negative feedback. The worst thing that happened though was some one called me a "mutt".I don't think the guy was clear in his head and expected any type of response. Or to be picked up and thrown across the room. I still regret the incident I don't think that guy will ever call a person with vit any names soon.I'm no badd azz but you will never know what triggers or sets you off. I guess being a being a black belt in Japanese Judo doesn't hurt either.
im sorry you had to go thru that. Not all kids are like that, i've had a few children come up to me and ask me what i have on my skin, but they don't do it in a mean spirit, just out of curiosity. Their parents usually scold them or give them "the look." I once even had a little girl approach me in wal mart and tell me that she liked my skin because it was pink. She then went up to her mother and told her "look mommy, i want pretty pink skin like hers!" haha. Try to be friendlly with the kids too, i usually greet them with a big smile, it lets them know that i am no threat to them.
My co worker has a lil 4 yr son who absolutly loves me! (i haven't quite figured out why) when he goes to work with him, everyone believes he's my son cause he's always by myside, he's never asked about my skin though... i've always wondered if my co worker had explained it to him already or if he just doesn't care. :)
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Ciney I even had a kid ask me could he get a brown crayon and finish coloring my color in for me,I thought that was so cute of the kid to even mention that and to this day I still laugh when I think of that experience........lol
I think this is the part that bothers me the most about Vitiligo. I teach in an elementary school and I love children so dearly. My students are very comfortable around me, and the younger ones are always open and comfortable about asking me what is wrong with my arms. I just always feel so sad, though, when I see children frightened of me because of the way I look.
I did encounter a person who would not shake my hand upon an introduction.I was going to sell him my 59' Vette to him for a pretty good deal.I politely closed the garage door and went back into the house. I figured "what the hell" I need a nap. I guess I can be a jerk too but I'm not contagious. That guy lost the sale to a gentleman who was more polite than myself. : )
Vitiligo is funny because some kids will look at me like I'm a monster and others will walk right by me like I'm in visible
I feel very fortunate to live in the Denver area. Most people are so preoccupied with daily errands and complacent with usual routines. I keep a low profile and go about my daily business. So no one notices.Unless I'm at a cafe or some place of business,then people have time to notice or stare. I'm very easy to approach anyways so I answer questions if they have them.
Mentally I'm past all the negative feedback. The worst thing that happened though was some one called me a "mutt".I don't think the guy was clear in his head and expected any type of response. Or to be picked up and thrown across the room. I still regret the incident I don't think that guy will ever call a person with vit any names soon.I'm no badd azz but you will never know what triggers or sets you off. I guess being a being a black belt in Japanese Judo doesn't hurt either.
My co worker has a lil 4 yr son who absolutly loves me! (i haven't quite figured out why) when he goes to work with him, everyone believes he's my son cause he's always by myside, he's never asked about my skin though... i've always wondered if my co worker had explained it to him already or if he just doesn't care. :)
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