Children Quote by Andrew Solomon
““Parents’ early responses to and interactions with a child determine how that child comes to view himself. These parents are also profoundly changed by their experiences. If you have a child with a disability, you are forever the parent of a disabled child; it is one of the primary facts about you, fundamental to the way other people perceive and decipher you. Such parents tend to view aberrance as illness until habituation and love enable them to cope with their odd new reality—often by introducing the language of identity. Intimacy with difference fosters its accommodation.””
About This Quote
Early parental reactions shape a child's self‑view; parents of disabled children also transform, learning to see difference as identity rather than illness.
In simple terms: Parents shape child self‑view; they also change.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and nurture identity in difference.
Themes
parenting
disability
identity
growth
Mood
empathetic
thoughtful
Type
psychological
inspirational
When to use this quote
- raising a child with disability
- support groups
- family counseling
- education planning
Key Concepts
self‑concept
social perception
Questions to Reflect On
- How can parents shift from seeing disability as illness to identity?
- What practices foster love and accommodation?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on illness can limit acceptance.
