How teaching me “ Verbal Come Backs “ was The Best Thing My Mother taught me as a child with a disability.

The world isn’t made for little girls who have broken bodies.

My illness has always been invisible. 

But I have always been in constant pain,  extremely uncoordinated, and unable physically do what my peers can do.

And even in elementary school. 

Kids can smell differences like that 

Like a Shark to blood.

In 1st grade when recess was EVERYTHING, and all of my friends began to want to play sports.

(Something I have never been gifted at, or honestly physically capable of doing. )

I thought I was doomed to be an utter social outcast! 

Like for example when my friends would all want to play kick ball.

I would HIDE behind the tree,  

Cringe when people made me take my turn.

And try not to cry when people openly commented about how awful I was. 

( Because they didn’t know  how truly hard I was trying!) 

( this was the story when I tried ANY SPORT , or anything that required an ounce of athletic ability)

But my dear mother realized something, that I didn’t really quite understand at my young age.

That even though I wasn’t as physically capable as my peers.

I was a natural performer, and incredibly quick witted.

So noticing how much this was affecting me. 

my dear, sweet, service oriented angel of a mother. 

( who has WAY more spice to her than people who don’t know her would ever realize 😂) 

Taught me how to laugh at myself 

And most importantly Taught me the art of the “ Verbal comeback”

Yes.. you heard the right.. my MOM taught me how to talk back 😂. 

And it was the best thing she could have ever taught me 

I would tell her situations at school that invovled people being mean about my disability.

And we would litterally come up with come backs

And rehearse them in the house.

Or in the car.

So I would be prepared for when the situation came my way.

I remember one time.

It must have been in about 5th grade 

I was attempting some kind of sport at recess and one of my classmates 

Started commenting about just how stupid and uncoordinated I looked. 

So it it led to a conversation very similar to this..

Class mate : “ You  look really stupid and aren’t good at doing that. 

Me: “ My cousin has a pet goldfish”

Classmate : “ ( confused).  “ Why did you say that “

Me :  Because by telling me I looked stupid..  I thought we were taking about things that truly don’t matter”  

As you can imagine that shut my classmate up pretty quick.. and I can’t tell you how many THOUSANDS of well crafted comebacks I had, and used for situations just like that.

Kids are mean. 

They always have been and always will be.

Some kids pushed and shoved.

But my mom taught me to defends myself In a different way. 

My greatest weapon was my tongue.

And to those who think it’s a terrible thing to teach your children to 

“ talk back “  is the WORST thing in the world.

You are completely and utterly mistaken.

I could have never defended myself physically.

I knew that, my mom knew that, anyone who knew me new that.

And I was never rude first. I never threw the first “verbal punch”

I only used words to defend myself

But a kid needs a way to defend themselves.  Or their confidence will be utterly uprooted before it has a chance to fully grow. 

 And learning  how to “talk back” and defended myself verbally 

Gave me CONFIDENCE.

I no longer felt like the weakest kid in my class 

( even though physically I most definitely was!)

Learning how to “talk back” gave me courage to laugh at Myself and find humor in the things I look stupid at Doing.

I would often point out just how dumb I looked before any one else did. 

Because I knew I could verbally destroy anyone who tried to tare me down.

( and believe me when your a 8 year old throwing “come backs”

 Is like knives to anyone who tries to tear you down.. Bullying ends quickly)

And most importantly it taught me that just because I didn’t have the strengths my peers did.

It didn’t mean I didn’t have different strengths that were just as or even more powerful! 

Sticks and Stones may break bones.

But Learning the power of Words is what truly saved me.

Being a sick kid.

The world isn’t in your favor.

And as you get older.

You find a deeper realization that the world  the world is FAR from

kind.

And isn’t made to “adapt” to your health challenges or what you need.

You have to find ways to adapt your life to fit in this world.

And I’m so grateful my mother taught me to defend myself and in so many ways gave me the Arsenal I needed 

To not only survive. But emotionally thrive.

Even while growing up in a body that was trying to Kill me. 

Until  next post 

Stay strong, and always 

#smileon🐷