Innocence.

It is something that you have, until it is taken from you.
We are born with pure hearts.
Hearts that love all.
Care for all equally.
That see the bigger picture.
And pass no judgements.

Harsh words, discrimination, humiliation, ridicule, hate…
Those things are all TAUGHT.
Those things are all a learned behavior.

My child is on the Autism Spectrum. He is Non-verbal. He has no words.
That does NOT make him any less valuable, any less important, any less teachable, and certainly not any less loved.
Period.

The story should stop there.
It should.

But you see, I have seen a great deal of ugly, and sad, and hate appear on the pages of my fellow special needs parents. Comments from readers calling names, and making derogatory remarks towards a CHILD. On a blog crafted out of love and education, and acceptance. Just like mine.
A child (and family) whom they have never met. And honestly I am torn up by it.

Of course the knee-jerk reaction is to be angry and bitter… and shocked. (And rightfully so). But when that piece melts away, what’s left behind for me is fear.

I fear for my child’s future. And not because of his abilities, but because of how quick the world is to judge. How fast others are to use language to cut someone down to the bone.
I fear for the day when I am directly confronted, and the day will unfortunately come.
And I fear in that instance what I would say. How I would react, in the moment.

And while my dear friend was discussing her feelings on this, on her own page, she made a comment on how people think that bullies are made up of children. And how untrue that really is.

From what we have seen in this yet early journey, is that bullies are not just walking around in the disguises of 7,8,9,10 year-olds. No.
The real bullies are cloaked in old age. The ADULTS.
The people who have been on this earth far longer, who should have a more rounded view. But somewhere along the way, for some, that pure heart, that bigger picture fades to black. And the innocence is gone.
Someone must have taught them that belittling will give purpose. Or that it fills holes of void.
Because we’re all born the same way, and yet, we are different. In every sense of the word.

I will forever preach on this page to BE KIND. Always.
I will never presume to know anyone’s whole story. But no where in the script does it say “hurt one another”.

When you need a place to vent, or cry, or share the GOOD & beautiful, that’s what we are here for. That’s what this space is created for!
Kindness should not be a word that needs a constant reminder before it.

Some are given the beautiful gift of voice, and using it to tear apart hearts. And others live a life without words, with no choice given.
How bizarre and unfair.

We have to BE better. We have to DO better.
Or the innocent, just like my sweet boy, will grow never having a chance.