When my child was an infant and toddler she couldnt tolerate even - TopicsExpress

When my child was an infant and toddler she couldnt tolerate even mild temperature fluctuations in her environment and it was excruciatingly painful for me to see her terrified by something as simple as a warm bath. At two years old my child was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder with anxiety. When my child was five she started school excitedly but was crippled emotionally with her OCD which dictated that wearing clothes was highly uncomfortable, even painful. Every morning was a nightmare for her and for me, trying to find panties and socks and soft pants and knit shirts that passed the test. At nine years old my child generated concern in one of her teachers from her elementary school. The teacher told me my child was a loner, preferred to observe rather than mingle with others; something I already knew because I knew the struggles my child endured set her apart from most of her peers, leaving her feeling very insecure and alone. At twelve my child somehow saw her way through the clothes predicament and was able to come to terms with wearing items as popular and as ordinary as blue jeans and a bra. But she continued to suffer from her disability to make more than one close friend at a time and became extremely sensitive to the criticism that sometimes resulted from her insecurity. At fourteen my child fought to conquer her paralyzing fear of not fitting in and indulged in a desire to not only overcome her struggles with OCD and anxiety but actually transform herself into a girl who LOVED clothes and loved being a fashionista. By sixteen my child was wearing trendy and fashionable clothes and had become quite talented with makeup. She loved to emulate what was popular in the fashion world because for most of her life OCD had made clothing as well as many other things in her life impossible to enjoy. This same year my child developed Vaso Vagal Syncope, a blood pressure regulation disorder which causes her to pass out unexpectedly and then be sick and weak for days. This same year my child was made fun of by her peers at Lebanon High School and was bullied repeatedly for wearing heels and being interested in fashion. This same year my child approached the principle and the school board with an idea about forming an anti-bullying campaign. They liked her idea and used her idea. One of the girls who bullied her the most in school made fun of the anti-bullying posters being made but then later, at a school board meeting, took credit for the idea. One school board member, ONE, stood up and said that had it not been for my child the idea would have never been realized. My childs senior year the damage had been done. Her own great aunt who resided on the school board at the time did not acknowledge the letter we wrote her about the injustice that had been done. No one cared. My child switched from Lebanon High School to Honaker and flourished. But... She still (to this day) struggles daily with the memories of having struggled so hard growing up only to have those she trusted betray her trust. She uses pageantry to fulfill her love of fashion and the stage and has earned some titles as a result. At twenty years old my child has made her first appearance on the Miss Virginia stage and it is her dream to one day be Miss Virginia. She works with young girls every chance she gets to show them that no matter their obstacles they can overcome. If that makes her intimidating to those who arent willing to get to know her personally then so be it. I have seen how my child has helped those in need, those who like her struggle every single day just to make it through. Dont judge her, dont neglect an opportunity to let others hear what she has to say. A hero is someone who is admired for their qualities and deeds...an ideal model. To many little girls she is a heroine, exudes the qualities and performs the deeds that give them a reason to believe that they can achieve whatever they set their mind to. Because EVEN someone like her has done it. I give Leah, my child, credit, because I have seen her humiliated, used, scorned, and underestimated and yet she continues to trust in God being in her future and that future being bright. I can not say that I would trust in anyone after going through what she has. It makes me me tremendously sad when others have not walked in her shoes but presume to know everything about her feelings and motives. And please, I name no names so refrain from thinking I must be talking about one person in particular. I am not.