I have a 14-year-old daughter who seems not to be growing any taller. That started when she was the age of 11. Now there is overwhelming evidence that she is a midget, something I find so heavy in my heart to accept. We have visited a specialist who confirmed that our daughter is a midget. Now we are confused as we are still in shock and disbelief.
We want to be there for our daughter and help her fight all the stigma. We want to work for her and help her with everything. I don’t want to see her suffer. How can we make sure that her future is secured in case one day we are no longer there to work for her? – Mai Dee
Dear Mai Dee
Disability does not mean inability. I am sure you have heard that statement a lot of times but I want to assume that it does not make any sense to you. I have come to appreciate and find the true meaning of the statement after meeting a number of disabled people who are living a normal life despite some challenges. The moment you start treating your daughter as someone who is disabled and seeing her as a midget rather than as a beautiful girl you start sending the message that she can’t do anything in life.
She is just short, she still has her brains and she can still dream to be anything she wants to be in life. Just like every other short woman out there, she will only fail to qualify for most modelling contests as they require tall women.
My point is she is still able. You do not have to live your whole life worried about her and working for her. Showing that you are committed to take care of her the rest of your life gives her no purpose to live; it shatters her dream and sees herself as a lesser being, which she is not.
She needs your support in showing her that you believe in her dreams. The most important thing for you to do for her right now is to make sure that you push her to the best of her ability and give her the best education. You never know, Zimbabwe may have the first female president in her. Yes, she can. – Aunty Lisa
Post published in: Lifestyle