Thursday, May 26, 2011

Acceptance



Ever since Noel began school at the tiny age of three, I have had to deal with impatient drivers. Living on a highway magnifies the issue.

Picture the cutest 3-year-old you ever saw in a wheelchair device being lifted on to a school bus because she hasn't learned how to walk up stairs yet. Heck, she had only mastered walking 2 or 3 months before. Now picture an impatient driver honking his horn because he has to wait an extra 30 seconds to get where he is going.

Fast forward six years. Now picture a cute-as-a-button 9-year-old getting on the school bus wearing braces on her legs. She is down to only taking an additional 10 seconds of the drivers time, as she can slowly make her way up the steps. Some mornings this is achieved better than others. Again, picture honking drivers who feel getting to their destination is more important than a handicap child getting to school safe and sound.

I would have thought I'd be use to this type of daily treatment after six years, but I am not. My daughter is blessed not to understand that these people are behaving in such a shameful fashion. They are not content to gripe in their cars silently, they feel the need to lash out on their horn. Seriously, what do they think they will accomplish by doing this day after day?

Sadly, I see no way to stop this from happening. Most of the time I don't even know which car is honking, so I can't walk up to them afterward and show them what a sweet little girl Noel is. Although, one time Noel's old bus driver got out of the bus and had a few words with one of the cars. I'm not interested in having words, but rather educate these individuals so they no longer remain ignorant, or cold-hearted.