We Ditched the Script

Warren: Okay, let’s face it, I abandoned the script for this one. So, don’t you hate when kids treat you with less respect when they should really treat you with more? Most adults will know what I’m talking about. Don’t get me wrong, I’m guilty of this myself. But, it still makes me mad. Let’s call these people, ahem, (I’m trying to think of the nicest word possible)... Mom, do you have a word? Leah: Condescending or condescender. Warren: Well, I hate when I have to deal with condescenders. Being a kid with a disability, you get a lot of these people thrown at you. On the annoying scale, it depends, is the person actually trying to be condescending or is everything they say just surprisingly condescending… they actually both rate about 7 out of 10 on the annoying scale. Don’t get me wrong, the condescender may not know me and know how smart I am and feel they have to simplify things for me. No big deal, I’ll just subtly show them how smart I am. If that doesn’t work, I’ll just out and out say to them that they don’t have to treat me like a baby. The most annoying people are the people that don’t even give you a chance. The people that talk over you or tell my own Mother what they think I need. Right Mom? Leah: Ummm Hmmmm. Warren: Is that all you have to say? Leah: My mother told me, when you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. I’m following my Mother’s advice with my response. Warren: Oh, I see how it is. In truth, I probably don’t even want to know you’re thinking, Mom. Leah: Nope, probably not. Warren: Well, Ima [sic] just gonna [sic] leave that at that. (Leah: Substandard dialogue makes my butt twitch.) Warren: But, don’t you use substandard dialogue sometimes, Mom? Leah: NEVER! Okay, I may use some slang while speaking, but, having to type it out makes me die a little inside. Warren: Okay, I don’t want you to die inside or outside. This has totally gone off script, pfffftttt [sic], as if I had a script from the beginning (totally not flipping through papers, yep, totally don’t have a script). Leah: I think we’d be fired for this script, the way we have totally and utterly digressed from your original thought… or script. Warren: Good thing we’re not writing for a TV show or we’d never make it (totally not reading that off a teleprompter). Leah: The kid has jokes tonight! Warren: When do I never not have jokes on hand? Leah: True story! Anyway, back on track, moral of the story, (yes, there is actually a moral to all of this). Just because someone may be different than you, where you can actually see it, don’t just assume that makes that person “less than” anything or anyone. Talk to them and treat them the same as anyone else and give them the same respect you would want in return. Whatever you do, DO NOT ever try to tell their Mother that you know them better when you only just met them… just saying. Warren: See, there is a method to our madness. Leah: Many may doubt that Warren, but yes, eventually we are able to herd ourselves back to the original point.