How do you handle this?

MaxandRuby

DS2 uses a walker to walk (with standby assistance) or a wheelchair.  A couple of times now his older brother has asked "when will DS2 walk?" or "when DS2 walks...". He has also asked why he can't walk.  At church this past Saturday, DS2 was "chasing" DS1 in the walker outside and there were a couple of other near-age children present also.  One of them came up and asked me "why can't he walk?".  I wasn't sure what to say but said "he can walk. See he is walking righ now!". That apparently satisfied her but I want to have a couple of answers in my back pocket for the next time this happens.  For reference, if it matters, DS2 is 4.5, DS1 is almost 6. 

So how do you handle/answer the "why doesn't s/he walk?", "when will s/he walk?", etc.

ToastieSimons

"When will you quit asking me all these questions?"

haha, i kid i kid. For younger kids I usually just say "everyone does things at different times" and for the 3 and under crowd it usually works.  

I think for your DS2, because he is going to be exposed to it every day of his life, you need to have the "everyone has different strengths" speech.  Pick something that is hard for him and say "you know how doing X is hard for you", well different things are hard for everyone.  And for your brother walking is hard for him.  But he can use a walker and still play with you.  It doesn't make us love anyone less because they have things that are hard for them.

For other kids, your answer was fine.  In my eyes.

realisticdreams

gah. I don't know I suck at these types of things.  I got so irritated in a playplace the other day bc 2 little girls were being so mean to P, and she just wanted to play with them.  

I think, "but he is walking" is a great reply, because he is, and that is amazing!