Kids Keep it Real

Last night was Halloween. Only about ten kids came to our house, and one time six came in a group. One little boy about 7 said, "I don't like that kind of candy. I want Snickers." I ignored him, and he said it again only louder..."I want Snickers!!" When I was giving candy to the other kids he said "Why are you in a wheelchair." I didn't answer him because I was talking to one of the little girls, so he yelled it this time. I hope his mother has a lot of patience :) I don't care if kids ask me if I'm in a wheelchair because everybody wants to know, and kids are the only ones who aren't afraid to ask! One of my biggest pet peeves is when kids say hello to me when I'm out, and their parents pull them away. That only will make them have a fear of people with disabilities when they get older. Once I was in the mall, in Sears, and a little boy about three ran over to me with his arms wide open and hugged me. He acted like he knew me. His grandmother ran over and got him, but she was laughing. She didn't speak English, but I wondered if maybe the little boy had a relative in a wheelchair, because he just lit up when he saw me. It was the cutest thing. Several years ago I helped teach Sunday School to a class of five year olds. One little boy asked if he could sit on my lap and I said sure, and then I pushed my chair with him on my lap. He loved that. Then all the kids wanted to try it. But that one little boy took a special liking to me. One day he looked at me with big eyes and a concerned look on his face and said, "are you married?" I told him I wasn't and he got a huge smile on his face. I love the innocence and honesty of children.