It still hurts

[Charlize]

Yesterday i was at the post office mailing packages. I had a huge pile to deal with but managed to get everything past the lobby into the mail room. It was jammed with folks getting their Christmas packages out. I had a customs form to put on a package going to England so i dropped 7 packages off in the front when my turn came and went back to the desk to fill out the form. A woman with her 5 year old granddaughter was working next to me. The child spoke out "Isn't that a man Grandma". Ouch, it still hurts. I spend my life living and forgetting the change. While i would like to think it makes no difference just being me can still cause others to react.

Fortunately i had a great talk with the postmistress who i've known since we were children. My little town, i guess, is safe and loving but the voice of a child cut right through that feeling of security. Just one small price of being me.

Hugs,

Charlie

[Cyndee]

Oh hugs Charlie, we tell ourselves it's only words, but they do seem to find our tender spots. We have to move on from those little incidents and put our best foot forward, waiting to catch the next vibe that will make us smile.

Wishing you a brighter day today, and somehow someone else will compensate, I know it.

Hugs

Cyndi -

[Charlize]

Thank you dear, Others do make up for the hurt but i hope over the years some callus will develop so words bounce off. I doubt that however and instead think i'll have to accept that i'm not perhaps as stealth as i thought. I'm just me and i'm not going drab again. I love my life and those smiles do help.

Hugs,

Charlie

[Guest Kalie Aowynn]

Hey Charlie,

First off big warm hugs and happy holidays to you. I am sorry you had to hear that. It is amazing what will fly from the mouth of a child. they just don't understand what not too say and say what they are thinking(rather bluntly). Too bad they don't come with a sensitivity switch lol

Kalie

[Guest Kenna Dixon]

I was at an LGBT house party a few weeks ago. One of the women had brought her child, age 6 or so.

Sitting across the table, she suddenly asked me, "Are you a boy?"

I smiled and responded, "Sometimes."

In retrospect, that answer didn't make a lot of sense. But it ended the discussion.

[Carolyn Marie]

I feel for you,Charlie. It hasn't happened to me yet, but I know it will someday, and I am sure my reaction will be the same as yours. We can tell ourselves it doesn't matter, but no matter how self-secure we think we are, it does. The important thing is not to overreact, and just shrug it off and put it behind us and move on. That's what you've done, and I hope I'll do as well as you.

Think of it as a batting average. If this is your first out at the plate, you're probably batting .900. That would make you an All Star in any league.

(((HUGS)))

Carolyn Marie

[VickySGV]

Charlie & all -- I have somewhat come to terms with the fact that whatever a small child says to us, it is really without malice and is far more of a caring about the other person than intending to hurt them. The hurtful things they will express later in life will depend on others who taught them. A gentle smile toward the child, and we will make them an ally even without words at least for that minute, and minutes count in their development. Perhaps our momentary hurt is a Gift Of The Magi if we really think about it, we have given that child a gift too, a gift of diversity, and a gift of wonder about their world.