We’re absolutely delighted to feature Katie’s latest blog ‘Why do people always stare at us?’ Katie Holmes is 13 and writes about her life and experiences of living with Cerebral Palsy. Over to you Katie…
Hey Everyone! Today’s blog is all about why people have to stare. Do not get me wrong, staring is normal, I understand why people do it as I walk past, but I just wanted to blog about how it affects me personally. Loads of people have stared at me since I was born. It didn’t affect me then, how could it? I did not understand what it was. As I grew older, the stares grew along with me too.
The stares happen pretty much every day of my life, even going to supermarkets, I get a lot of children young children staring at me I so wish there parents would say ask her why she has the walker or why she has the sticks, its teaching them to know more about disabled people and this way they will be more accepting, also a lot when me and my family go on holiday together. I mean a lot, maybe there not used to seeing disabled people I honestly don’t know. Loads of people literally just stop walking, turn their heads to me and stare. Every single holiday I have had with my family has been a holiday to remember, but it would be perfect if people just didn’t have to stare at me wherever I go. You would honestly think I was an animal at the zoo they don’t even try and hide it, all I can think is ‘yes I know I may look a little bit different, well my legs do but I’m completely normal’
Next thing on “the list” (Yep, there IS a list of where people stare at me lol) is school. I know what you must be thinking, “But Katie, I thought you had loads of friends and that I didn’t think it would bother you!” (If you do not think this, I apologise, not everyone can be a psychic right? Since I couldn’t be a doctor, I thought a psychic would do the job… never mind!) My true friends don’t care about my sticks or my walker but the truth is, it does bother me. Whenever I walk past people they stare at my splints, my walker, and my sticks. But sometimes whenever I feel uncomfortable, I just pretend that no one is staring at me, my legs, or anything to do with my Cerebral Palsy. It does make me feel more proud of who I am to pretend like no one is staring at me. That’s the best way to deal with it I feel pretend no one is starring some people even walk past and sat awwww…..I’m 13 I don’t need anyone’s sympathy. The nicest feeling in the world is being accepted some days I feel it and sometimes I don’t, like I said my real friends don’t even think twice about it.
The next “fantastic” staring review is that it is normal to stare. Listen, I know I did this a little on the first paragraph but i just want to explain in detail why this one is okay to me. (Don’t worry, you’re not going to be up ALL night reading this ha ha) I think this is ok because they only want to know what happened to me I think its human nature to stare. Some people are curious I would be too, it bothers my mum more than anyone she always says if they stare just say what you looking at….but I’m not EVER going to do that. The only problem is that I feel uncomfortable whenever people do stare. (The word uncomfortable has been used quite a lot to describe how I feel I think lol).
This is the last staring review now. I left this one for last because I feel like it is the most important one of them all: if you have a personal opinion or question about me, feel free to ask/say; I won’t hesitate to tell you the answer. To me I feel like people are scared to ask in case I get embarrassed. It’s absolutely fine! I love speaking to people about my CP I am so proud to be who I am I wouldn’t ever change the fact that I have Cerebral Palsy it’s what makes me me.
I hope you enjoyed reading this blog if you still want to stare go ahead feel free to ask any questions on my Instagram or on this Blog. https://www.instagram.com/?hl=en
I love you all
Stay Strong!
Katie xox
