So, what's wrong with her legs?

We are a very active family and are on the go a lot. I take pride in the fact that I've heard more than a couple of times from one of Emma's therapists that I bring her in too tired because we were out late the night before or up having a dance party and the like. We like to participate in our community and enjoy life. What can I say? I'm not about to compromise a childhood for a well-rested therapy session the next day!

Last week I had the girls at the Delaware Children's Museum. It's a fantastic new museum, very accessible and fun and we have a season pass so we go quite often. This week we went without meeting up with a bunch of friends and it was mostly just the three of us hanging out having fun. A boy came up to us and grabbed Emma's leg and tapped it and moved it a bit. Emma just looked at him and so did I since he wasn't doing anything in a mean way and I was giving him a bit of room before I demanded he take his hands off my daughter. Then he looked at me and asked me - "So, what's wrong with her legs anyway?"

I was a bit dumbfounded by this. I mean, Emma is in a wheelchair but I haven't really had people ask about it much. All our friends have pretty much known Emma all her life and this is just the way she is, so I haven't really developed a script to tell people when they ask. (Oh I have had people make comments in a not so nice way and I just ignore them.) This little guy was just quite curious and looking expectantly at me for an answer.

I thought a second or two and told him that there is nothing wrong with her legs, that this is just the way God made her. Then he said well there must be something wrong since she is in a wheelchair. And I said no, not wrong, this is just the way she was made. He thought about that a minute and said "Oh!" and sort of tapped her leg and gave her a hug and off he went. Later in the day a little girl about Emma's age asked me if she was a baby. I said, no, she's not a baby she is almost 3 years old. And then she asked me why she is in that (pointing to the wheelchair) and I told her that she needs to move around and this gets her around since she's not walking yet. Again, I was caught off guard so it took me a few moments to think of this response.

Her mom was nearby and told me her little girl didn't mean anything by calling Emma a baby and that she was sorry if I was offended. I told her I wasn't the least bit offended and she could ask whatever questions she wants. The mom and I proceeded to talk until the girls were done their art projects.

Since we will continue to be out and about, I'm sure we'll get many more of these questions so maybe it's about time I started to think up some good responses.