Around the Web…

Some links to send you into the weekend:

• Is it fair to “trade kids“? — MOMformation
  
• A mother with the herpes simplex virus accidentally kills her newborn with a kiss — Telegraph
• The dying wish of a 9-year-old girl: To get married — ParentDish
• Are British parents discriminating against a disabled TV show host? — lilSugar
• Check out the latest webisode from JuiceBoxJungle! — JBJ

Comments

I agree with the comment on the children’s show host with a disability, “…it is the parents who may need to modify their thinking…” People with disabilities will never achieve equality in society if parents don’t teach and show their children that it is perfectly okay to look different and it is perfectly okay to have a disability.

- eternalcanadian on February 27th, 2009

I agree with the previous poster. Children don’t think much of things like that. It’s the parents that blow things out of proportion.

- Lorus on February 28th, 2009

For what it’s worth, I’m from the UK and the general public here have been entirely horrified that there has even been more than a passing comment about Cerrie’s arm. The kids here love her because she’s a brilliant presenter, they couldn’t give two whatevers about anything else. And yes, this prejudice (and that’s exactly what it is) is from the parents and not the children. I’m disgusted that some UK parents feel there is even a case to answer with this. This lady is lovely, all power to her.

- Alex on February 28th, 2009

I always thought that England was by far ahead of ‘acceptance’ than here in the US. For instances Gay Rights, Interracial Relationships. I think what scares people the most is being uneducated, We all would like to think we know it all. What’s wrongDiesel with asking questions and getting truthful explanations. Not just for children but for adults too. Why is it so hard to say we made a mistake. That is one thing I will tell my children if I made a mistake I admit it. These parents who are saying that Cerrie has given their children nightmares and ‘How are they going to explain to their children about why her arm is missing’. GROW UP TELL THE BLOODY TRUTH AND GET ON WITH YOUR BUSINESS. Its 2009 for Gods sake!

- mary on February 28th, 2009

The fuss about the children’s host with a partial arm reminds me of Anne Lamott’s writing about a colleague whose wife was having a baby they knew in advance would be missing part of his arm. She visualized her son and the other baby hanging out together (both named Sam), her son saying, “So where’s your arm” and the other Sam replying, “I don’t know; where’s your dad?”

Basically: we as adults worry far too much about our children. I think the host is fine; it’s the parents who are freaking out. How else will little ones learn if they’re not exposed, in a healthy way, to all sorts of people?

- mp on March 2nd, 2009