Comments on Little Billies: LABELLED

Great post Sarah, it brought a tear to my eye... o...

2010-09-29T05:06:14.860-07:00

Great post Sarah, it brought a tear to my eye... our kids are so darn precious, the label means nothing, it's what's in their hearts that counts xx

I agree with previous comments, a label can help y...

2010-09-15T07:27:26.876-07:00

I agree with previous comments, a label can help you more readily find answers, strategies, support, resources. Try and embrace the positive and know that we all live with labels, whoever we may be.

That is great to hear Sarah. Have been thinking ab...

2010-09-15T04:44:16.396-07:00

That is great to hear Sarah. Have been thinking about you today. Labelling can be good, too. Although it might not seem nice to label a child, it can be a quick way for professionals to have an idea about some of the issues your son might face. And it does not in any way change the lovely person he is. I hope the positives continue to outweigh the negatives.

Thanks Helen & Eleanor :) Erin, I was actuall...

2010-09-14T03:48:37.685-07:00

Thanks Helen & Eleanor :)

Erin, I was actually a parent helper on his class today and it has already amazed me at how his current teacher has embraced the label and engaging him where he needs it!

Sarah, this is a great post and you are absolutely...

2010-09-13T17:21:04.723-07:00

Sarah, this is a great post and you are absolutely right - labels do not mean lack of potential!!! I don't know what the label is but usually in a school setting labelling will happen for funding....so I am hoping that this is the case for you and that your little Billy will get all the help - and not the sterotyping and negativity - that a label can bring. Good luck :)

Labels of any sort, and some more than others, evo...

2010-09-13T05:33:12.839-07:00

Labels of any sort, and some more than others, evoke emotion, pre-conceptions and helpful or unhelpful responses from well meaning people.

In response to tips to help others relate to your 'labelled' kid. I love how you summed it up, "that (the labelled) child is full of potential, still has a whole life ahead of them with a course not yet mapped out". Every child is influenced by those in their immediate family and environment.
Most important is the parent's response .... "to love them, for who they are and where they are in it!" It is at this time that a parent can be empowered to add to their knowledge and then 'educate' those whose information or understanding is limited.

Great post! I have yet to experience this with my...

2010-09-13T04:37:56.527-07:00

Great post!

I have yet to experience this with my own children....definitely food for thought.

Thank you :-)

Helen x

Even though I have had years working with kids wit...

2010-09-13T04:19:30.496-07:00

Even though I have had years working with kids with various 'labels' I still see the struggle every time the label 'officially' happens. We all have these dreams for our kids and somehow a 'label' is not part of a mums dream.(only for a little while though, as us mums are awesome at realising we knew the label was there all along - as Sarah said!)

I always tell the teachers or parents I work with that EVERY child in the classroom has a label. We treat every child differently already. Take a child with glasses for example, we don't suddenly say at 13yrs, 'Oh sorry sweetie but now you are 13, you should have outgrown the need for your glasses'. No - that would be nuts, we let her wear her glasses for the rest of her life and we 'label' her as a person that is 'short/long sighted.

I suppose it is just that sadly some labels are still a little more 'accepted' than others. BRING on the day when we all accept our labels and love each person for who they are within their label!

GREAT post Sarah!

Aspiring Mums - thank you! Kristin, you are not o...

2010-09-13T04:03:38.464-07:00

Aspiring Mums - thank you!

Kristin, you are not off topic at all, I guess that is my point! We are all labelled in one way or other regardless of where the label comes from.

Susan, you are absolutely right! It does give us access. Ultimately it is giving us more tools and resources to help our child receive their full potential.... which all a mama can really hope for their little billie :)

Labelling a child is a hard call I agree. The thin...

2010-09-13T03:22:50.706-07:00

Labelling a child is a hard call I agree. The thing is, that sometimes a label or a diagnosis, which is often what it really is, gives us access to funding and services. the 'label' my child has is one of those, and in some ways I embrace it.

I must admit having 4 children, the 2 smallest one...

2010-09-13T03:18:48.755-07:00

I must admit having 4 children, the 2 smallest ones 3 and 4 have been labelled babies, biggest mistake of my life and I admit I have done it and brought it all upon myself...don't hurt the babies, leave the babies alone, babies get out of that, babies stop climbing the pantry shelves. And I find now it has stuck with everyone, family friends, school friends, everyone our two little ones have been labelled the babies. They are not babies anymore but how do we get that across to everyone else now, or will they be babies for the rest of their lives???? I know this is probably off your topic, but feel I have labelled K and S for the rest of their lives...hmmmm

This has been on my mind lately too - the whole la...

2010-09-13T02:49:56.556-07:00

This has been on my mind lately too - the whole labelling thing. It's hard not to label. I do it unintentionally between my own children. It's important that we're aware of it, and how the labelling may affect our children.

I'm yet to work out any tips on dealing with labels, but I thoroughly agree with your last paragraph:

That regardless of the label, that child is full of potential, still has a whole life ahead of them with a course not yet mapped out. They are still have weaknesses and vulnerabilities.... we need to love them, for who they are and where they are in it!