One more grumpy post and then I'll get happy again. Promise.

I love my job. It doesn't pay well and I really only get substantial hours in the summer, but I absolutely love it. (even when I get punched in the jaw I can still say I like it...) My job has given me a whole new respect for people with disabilities and the people who take care of them. Patience, kindness, and finding joy in simple things are just a few things I've learned. However, the biggest thing that my job has taught me is pure Christ-like love. The kids I work with don't care if you're ugly, fat, smelly, short, tall, etc. They just want you to be happy. These guys are straight from Heaven (well most of them...ha) and they'll stay that way forever. They never loose their 'child-like' attitude. I love it.

Now, for the grumps. Why are non-disabled people so lame? We take the kids out into the community at least 3 days a week and I'm SO disgusted by the stares, whisperings, and terrified looks that we get. I have two examples (from dozens and dozens) that have made me loose a lot of faith in humanity.

1. A few days ago we went to the American West Heritage Center. The kids were thrilled! Pony rides, cookies, chickens and pigs running around, it was great. My participant doesn't physically look disabled at all, but if you spend more than 10 seconds around him, you realize that he is the definition of autism. He got really excited when he found out there were pony rides and he started running up to everyone he saw, asking there where they were. One lady completely ignored him, another guy swore at him and everyone else around just stared. It broke my heart as I tried to get him back over to me because he was crushed. I'll admit, it would be weird to see a teenage boy run up in a high pitched voice asked about ponies, but why be rude? Why not just say something like, "I don't know, you'll have to look at the map!" or something like that? My little guy walked away with his head down low. I wanted to cry and punch everyone around me.

2. We went to Logan's summerfest back in June and a co-worker and I counted in an hour, 6 people staring at us and I heard 2 people whisper about our group (one boy in particular). My intimidating looking co-worker didn't hold anything back and started pointing and staring right back. I was uncomfortable, they were uncomfortable, but hopefully (but doubtfully) they learned a lesson.

We have kids in wheelchairs, helmets, and others with obvious disabilities, but who cares? I don't understand why people are such jerks. I can't stand the staring, pointing, and making fun my kids. Over the past year the participants have become mine. I love them and seriously want to spit on those who make fun. Now, I realize that retaliation isn't Christ-like at all, but we all have room to grow, right? Like I said, these kids are straight from Heavenly Father. Why do people make fun of them? Why are people afraid?

So next time you see someone with a disibility, don't stare. If they talk to you, talk back and don't be afraid. If they were really that scary or violent, they wouldn't be in public. I'm tired of trying to explain to my kids why the "mainstream people" (as some of them call non-disabled people) don't want to talk to them.

I promise with all my heart that I will not be a grump in my next post.