United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Today I took Justin to preschool. He has had his spica cast for almost two weeks now so I am still new to the comments I receive from strangers in public. Anyway, he only goes to school two mornings a week so I have been staying with him because he is very clingy and the teachers feel more comfortable when I am there. He is only 21/2. Today was picture day so I was feeling a little emotional because he was going to have his picture taken with the cast. I sat him on the chair with his class and the photographer saw him and said "Oh, can he put his arm down?" Since I was in a room full of 2 year-olds and teachers I kept my cool and just gave her a look and said no! And she works with children. Thanks for listening. Melissa

Melissa:

I read your post, and almost cried at the memory of Josh's school pix-or lack thereof I should say. I sent him to mother's day out for pix-dressed as nicely as possible given the SOL splint post Mod-Quad. He was 22 months at the time. They took it upon themselves to decide not to include him in the pix because of the splint! They thought that's what I would want! I remember asking the director, "did you ever think to call me to double check what I wanted?!" I was so mad, and so HURT for Josh. Fortunately, I was able to forgive them for it, but the memory of it is still alive and well. Kudos to you for standing up for yourself and your child and for being there-I'm sure you've wondered what would have happened if you weren't!

I have never ecluded my son, or let anyone else exclude him because of his splints. This is a memory, whether we'd like to forget it or not. I took him to a well known portrait studio oncee for pictures, they told me it would be best to take his splint off and I exploded.....and needless to say, never took him back there again. If a child wears glasses everyday, do they ask them o take them off? Well, my son wears a splkint and this is part of his childhood so everyone must just deal with it !!!!

O.K. this is just my opinion but I hate the whole school picture thing. I usually take a class picture myself(on party days) then take them to Wal-Mart on their birthday or there about. It gives a yearly record and is less expensive. I always feel emtionally blackmailed by way the school system handles their pictures. Besides...I have 6 kids and the school charges 25.00 for the cheapest package!!! That's just too much to pay for pictures when I can do the entire family for way less.
Call me a cheapskate.....I march to a different beat!!
T.