Won’t Be Ashamed

For being who I am

Won’t Be Ashamed For Being Who I Am

Adventures in Disability Shaming

In this episode, my son tells me that he wants a new dad, one that isn’t disabled, who doesn’t use a wheelchair or a cane, and who is able to cross the stream by balancing on a fallen eucalyptus tree. I think it may be more-or-less normal for a kid to wish they had different parents, but it felt especially heavy that my kid was trying to hurt my feelings for having multiple sclerosis and being disabled. I pointed out that he was disability shaming me, that it was as if I had told him that I didn’t like being around kids because they don’t have driver’s licenses, or know how to multiply and divide. My point was that there are things that we don’t have control over and that it’s unfair to blame us for them. I think he heard me, the wheels began to spin, and maybe he’ll think this over.

• the heat is working again
• my son tried to hurt and shame me for being disabled
• need to teach disability consciousness to my children
• i went for a ride in my wheelchair with a friend for the first time and it was good
• i’m using a sleep apnea CPAP device to sleep at night, continuous positive air pressure. my energy is better

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