Oh no what do I do I'm so nervous.....

[aislinn aidaharpoo@hotmai]

Oh no what do I do I'm so nervous. Sound firmiliar. It's whats
parents say when they give birth to someone that have a cleft
palate and lip. I don't really understand why you would be
nervous. I mean think about the kid haveing to go through all the
teasing staring laughing and surgeries. How do you think they
feel. They are scared for the most part. I understand if you have
questions and are consired but the kid is more scared then you
will ever be.

[Christal Cullymore]

Being scared is a natural human response to anything out of
the "norm". The first time you see your child is at
birth. When that child is born with a birth defect, whether it is
clefting or a heart problem, the first thoughts that come into
your head are thoughts of "How am I going to care for this
child?" and "How can I make life the same for this
child as with any other?" At that time, you are only
thinking of the present, not exactly thinking 4-5 years into the
future. Teaching that child from the start that education is best
will help him/her learn to deal with their peers from the start.
All you can do is love them and help them the best you can. Yes,
kids are cruel, but they also are honest. They fear what they do
not understand. Educating them on their special face so that they
can educate others will let other kids know that it is okay to be
different. It is easy to poke fun. It is hard to stand firm. It
takes a lot of strength and courage. If I can teach that lesson
to my cleft affected daughter, I will be the proudest mother
alive! So, don't be so tough on parents who are just starting
out. They will, like me, gather information. They will learn. And
they will be strong for their children. They will fear until they
understand. I hope the good Lord gives you the strength to
understand the way these parents feel. God Bless.