10 Fingers are Overrated

The other day, I took my almost two-year-old son out in his pram for a walk to the shops.

He was dressed rather smartly in jeans, a shirt and a hat. He was wearing his favourite blue runners and clutched in his sweet little hand was his very favourite ‘Batman’ toy. He was all kinds of happy to be out and about on an adventure with Mummy. Because let’s face it…when you’re two, every day is an adventure, at least for poor Mummy.

So we arrive at the shops and all is well. Malakye is behaving and quite content to just be checking out his new surroundings. Like most almost 2-year-olds, he squealed with excitement when he saw something that caught his eye and waved at strangers as they passed him by. He delighted in the different sounds, colours, smells, and people he was witnessing.

After browsing the store and picking up a few items. It came time to pay. I went to the register and a lovely old lady began to serve me. She noticed I had a pram and leaned over the counter to peer in at my perfect, healthy and gorgeous baby.

She recoiled in horror. “Oh I’m so SORRY about your son, such a tragedy”, she said, looking anywhere but at the smiling little boy in my pram. I too looked at my son, but he was content and happy, if a little confused about what all the fuss was about.

But I knew. Deep in the bottom of my heart, I knew.

You see, my son was born missing his right forearm and hand. But he is anything but a ‘tragedy’ and definitely nothing to be sorry about.

In fact, he is just a normal little boy who happens to have one and a half arms. Just a little dude. And he is one cool little dude at that.

He likes music and things that have wheels and his very most favourite toy in the world is his Batman. He is little brother to seven sisters and one proud big brother. He loves playing with balls. He loves going on the swing and down the slide at the park. He likes feeding his dog Max.

He likes tormenting our cats by chasing them around the house trying to ‘pat’ them. He likes to wake up at 3am and say “Batman Batman Batman” over and over again. He likes eating every type of food imaginable including cat food. He likes climbing all the shelves of the bookshelf like it is a staircase and scaring me half to death. He likes baths and cuddles and kisses and tickles and snuggles. He likes shoes and his little jazz hat with skulls on it and he loves, loves, loves meeting new people.

When I look at my son, I do not see something to be sorry about. I do not see a tragedy. I see a miracle. A gift of life. An inspiration. I see my heart running around outside my body on two legs. I do not even notice his limb difference any more. There is nothing that he cannot or will not do. But he does not need people like you to feel sorry for him. He needs you to see past his physical difference, and at him. The incredible, smart, amazing and yes, gorgeously perfect, little human that he is. The glorious, talented man with every opportunity at his fingertips that he is yet to grow in to.

Thankfully, Malakye isn’t yet old enough to understand when people react to him in the manner that this woman did. When he is, I hope that I will have raised him to rise above such ignorance and to shine as he is meant to. As we are all meant to.

I cannot wait to see what Malakye will do next.

Do you love hearing inspirational stories like we do? Leave a comment below!

Image supplied.

24 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 06 Feb 2022
    10:26 am
I work with special needs children and they are all so different and so amazing. Often people dont know how to react to anyone that might be different. They dont mean to be rude. They just dont know how to react so thats where we can help them and educate. I have seen people that have been offended when someone will ask ‘whats wrong with your kid?” ….The person asking doesnt know how to act but they are trying to become better educated and the only way is for them to ask blunt questions and to get honest answers.

- - Ellen said
  - 29 Oct 2018
    4:15 am
When people make comments like this, we’re often silenced. It can help to practice what to say at incidents like this. Often I say something like; “no need to be sorry, she(he) is an absolute blessing / delight !”

- - ella12 said
  - 24 Jan 2017
    4:16 pm
Very ignorant of the lady, the boy is beautiful.

- - mom81879 said
  - 09 Jan 2017
    6:45 pm
How rude of that lady! Where do people get off being so horrible?!

- - unicorn16 said
  - 07 Jan 2017
    10:13 pm
What an adorable boy. I didnt notice the arm until I started reading. I had to go back and look again because at first look all i saw was his big beautiful baby eyes. My cousin was born missing part of one arm and it never holds her back and I would even go so far as to say it has made her into a wonderfully resilient young lady.

- - mom101628 said
  - 30 Nov 2016
    10:45 pm
Wonderful wonderful post about your son Malakye – bet he will be more well known than the boy Ray Martin did a story on. [I have forgotten his name]

- - tessie said
  - 30 Nov 2016
    12:19 pm
Malakye will be able to do anything he sets his mind to. Just don’t touch Batman or trouble will follow. Thank you for sharing your young man with us

- - rovermum said
  - 30 Nov 2016
    11:13 am
This mother and her son a wonderful. I can’t imagine and or believe the reaction of the cashier. Truly horrendous no matter what the situation just terrible. I love Malakye’s mums story and know that he has a wonderful family.

- - mom134803 said
  - 30 Nov 2016
    3:01 am
Sometimes people feel unhandy and don’t know what to say because they don’t know and your feelings, they actually might try to sympathize based on assumptions.
I once was chatting with a pastor who’s youngest daughter has Down Syndrome. When she got born he announced her birth and the whole congregation was silent….assuming he was upset about her birth they didn’t dare to congratulate him.
He told them to please congratulate him normally as he was overjoyed about the birth of his daughter.
In general people are just unhandy about imperfections, no bad intentions.

- - mom144390 said
  - 29 Nov 2016
    10:48 pm
What an amazing article about this handsome young man named Malakye. I wish him only good things in the years to come. Xx????????

- - mom70876 said
  - 29 Nov 2016
    8:36 pm
Maybe the lady wasn’t really apologising, but just said it for lack of something to say

- - mom72291 said
  - 31 Oct 2016
    1:00 pm
Malakye sounds like a fantastic little boy I am so sorry for the lady in the store she had an opportunity to see a little boy who one day may be the next man who could be any one he wanted to be the mind is blown away at the possibility at what a future your son has in store God Bless you and your family

- - Missey Grace said
  - 31 Oct 2016
    10:30 am
I totally get this and love to hear this wonderful and inspiring story, well done Anita.
The sense of feeling sorry for something outside of ordinary were really deep in the olden days’ culture.
We are in a world more likely to see the other side of things and be positive.
Great story.

- - Beck1986 said
  - 31 Oct 2016
    12:06 am
I think this storey is wonderful and a good reminder to people not to be so ignorant and see through peoples differences. They are still human.
This little spunk is beautiful the fact he has one and a half arms is nothing anyone should bring up in front of him this is how children believe they are different and no right because of us older humans making dumb statements. You rock little man and your mum is a star.

- - mom134803 said
  - 27 Oct 2016
    3:20 am
It’s a pity that some people are so limited in what they can see in / perceive about other people. Thank God you see the miracle and inspiration your boy is Anita and by the sound of it there are no limits to what Mallakay can and will do ! Thank you for inspiring us with your story !!
- malakyes_mummy replied
  
  28 Oct 2016 , 8:42 pm
  Thanks so much for your jind comments. I really appreciate them. I am sure you will see more of Malakye in the future. Dont forget, youre also welcome to follow usbon insta. We are @malakyes_mummy
- - mom209276 said
  - 25 Oct 2016
    1:30 pm
I feel sorry for the woman who was serving you…. this says all sorts of things wrong about her and nothing at all about your little soldier. Friends of ours son was born with his forearm missing and he is an Olympic Skier. There is nothing he can’t do and there is nothing your little man can’t do.
- malakyes_mummy replied
  
  25 Oct 2016 , 7:47 pm
  Thank you. I love hearing other inspirational tales. Yes i feel this lady didnt mean to be nasty, she was just a product of her generation i guess.
- - mom112217 said
  - 24 Oct 2016
    3:23 pm
Anita sound’s like an amazing mum and your little boy is just gorgeous.
- malakyes_mummy replied
  
  24 Oct 2016 , 6:44 pm
  Thank you. Nearly all mums are amazing. X
- - mom209139 said
  - 24 Oct 2016
    12:55 pm
He is amazing and just like everyone else such a happy and adventures little man.
- malakyes_mummy replied
  
  24 Oct 2016 , 6:47 pm
  He and his 3 year old sister are besties. She will lead him into all sorts of mischief and adventures Im sure.
- - Nas01 said
  - 24 Oct 2016
    11:38 am
Very inspirational story. Hope he has a life full of fabulous adventures.
- malakyes_mummy replied
  
  24 Oct 2016 , 11:55 am
  Thank you so much. He is a really happy and cheeky boy.