mental kid

Shawnn - posted on 02/12/2013

I'm not even going to address this except to say pull your head out of your behind, get with the 21st century, and first teach yourself, and then your child how to respond appropriately to someone with a mental health concern.

First, you get it out of your head that the "mental" kid is abnormal. He's more normal than most everyone, to be quite honest. At least he accepts YOU for what you are, and doesn't mock or make fun of you. Thus, he's more mature at 5 than you are as an adult.

Second, you start teaching your own child/children how to interact with those who may be considered less fortunate. The first lesson is QUIT MOCKING THAT CHILD. That's rude, inconsiderate, and uncalled for.

Third, quit trying to get us to validate your opinion that that child doesn't deserve the very same education and treatment that your "normal" child does. That's discrimination at its worst. What if I were to ask "Please give me your ideas on how to get the "normal" kid out of my son's classroom because the "normal" kid is an asshole.

Liz - posted on 02/12/2013

Using the word 'mental' as an adjective to describe a child is unkind to say the least. Generally speaking, society is enlightened enough to have moved away from bandying derogatory terms at people for having mental illnesses that were not their choice nor under their control, especially when the person involved is a child. Children need love and understanding and patience, not name-calling.

Kids sometimes use words like this or 'retarded' insensitively, but they are kids and we are adults. It is our job to educate firstly ourselves and then them about the importance of social inclusion, sensitivity and tolerance of the differences of others.

The child to whom you refer - assuming that there is actually anything worthy of note in his medical history, because your post does not elucidate on that matter - will have been assessed before being placed in a mainstream class.

If you approach this correctly, it is a good opportunity for you to parent your child, teach him about others being different and how to be nice to people, while still behaving in the way that he has been taught to do himself.

The other moms who are 'disturbed' should try the same thing.

Frankly my sympathies are with the child who is the target of your assertions, along with his family.

Dove - posted on 02/12/2013

Stop calling some innocent child 'mental' for one thing. He may very well have a mental health issue, but educating yourself on that is the first step. The second step is to teach your own child that not everyone's brain works the same way. This other child has struggles that you could never begin to imagine. Teach your son that by copying this child he is essentially making fun of the child and that is unacceptable. Every child deserves a chance and unless this child is a real physical danger (not just the occasional 'lashing out' that happens from most children) to the other kids in the class.... all these parents that are discriminating against this child need to get over themselves and get educated.

Amy - posted on 02/12/2013

I agree with Jodi what makes this kid "mental" and if you don't want him in your sons class where do you think he should be?? Based on what you have written it's safe to assume that he can not be with kids his own age because there is some underlying problem. If you don't want your kid to do the things he's doing teach your son that what he essentially is doing is making fun of someone which isn't very nice.

Jodi - posted on 02/12/2013

I am disturbed by the fact that you are calling a child "mental". Mental is not a medical term, and is not something to call a child. What do you mean by it? Does he have a diagnosed mental health issue?