Thread by @namelessism

This is my son. I’m very proud of him. He has ADD, and a severe stutter. He hasn’t stuttered in a month. He has been misjudged by his teachers and school. I, myself, slip on my words and “YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN” is a common Dad-ism here. This is very personal for me. When I do it,

We blame it on my ditsy mind or my part polish family inside joke of a Polish 🇵🇱 stereotype of being absent minded. “Pick up the linkin life”, “the wood thingies”. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. When he does it, though, they treat him like he’s slow. For two years he had his karate belt..

The white “participation” belt, taken away because he couldn’t sit still when NOT being given an instruction. From 7-8 years old his school’s karate program deprived him of his basic participation white belt not for not learning the teachings, but for forgetting in between

At the end of last years semester, he was so excited for the end of year performance where he was told he could earn it back. He practiced and practiced. I was in the stands Dad-signaling to be a statue. He was. He performed flawlessly. Even as other children turned the wrong

way and he noticed—he didn’t follow suit, but stayed facing right. He was perfect. I was incredibly proud. I watched for 45 minutes as my sone sat perfectly still and 199 kids walked up to claim their belts. #ADHD #ADD #Stutter

Boy 198 had just watched 197 students all walk the same way, the same path, and somehow went the wrong way. He laughed all the way through, waltzed 3x slower and goofily trotted up to the Grandmaster. And he was awarded his belt. My son was not called.

He looked at me and held up his hands as of to say “WTF?”. I signaled to be steadfast. He then, through the emotion, performed another 10 minutes to close out the karate business / school’s grand performance like a good solider. #ADD #ADHD

After they closed, my son found me and flew into my arms. He wept. He wept like he never has before. He balled and wept into my stomach, not understanding why he did everything right and he wasn’t awarded his belt. The basic, plain white PARTICIPATION belt.

It was a scarring moment we will both remember for the rest of our lives. They were punishing him—despite retaining everything they taught him and performing flawlessly, despite holding right when others strayed. They were punishing my son for past fidgeting #ADHD #ADD

I sent him to every professional and through every test. Our school wanted to say he had a learning disability. This past month working with a speech pathologist I haven’t heard him stutter ONCE. Yesterday, he performed a play.

He was the *only* child to remember the words to *all* the songs and their accompanying signs and dance moves. All of them. Every one. With my own eyes, I see a boy I’m INCREDIBLY PROUD OF. And it infuriates me that anyone would insinuate anything otherwise #ADHD #Stuttering

When articles like @TheAtlPolitics @JohnGHendy this highlight how we treat people who mix up words and you know DAMN WELL what they meant; When I do the EXACT SAME THING EVERY SINGLE DAY; When my son feels the it’s injustice at 8 years old, it’s personal.

I’m so very proud of my boy. I’m proud of the man I am. I proud of @JoeBiden and I’m proud of all the honorable, honest candidates asking America to represent them. I’m not ashamed of misspeaking or jumbling words. I’m ashamed of those that shame it.

I love #Biden2020 as an honest, decent man with a heart—but mostly because of his humility, his humanity, and because he represents REAL, everyday people like my boy and myself. I want an #EveryDayAmericanJoe not a polished, crafty slick talker. And most of all, a humble soul.

I don’t care about your politics. Vote your conscience”, Mr Cruz 🧐
But for God’s sake, end this culture of judgment, arrogance, internet frenzy for tearing people apart, and looking down on everyday people for HUMAN things. Humanity is not a weakness. It is our greatest asset.

This is my vote. This is MY voice. You have your own. I’m proud of whom I support, and why I support them—just as proud as I am of my boy. If you agree, read this article and join me at everydayamericanjoe.com #EveryDayAmericanJoe

I took him for ice cream at Coldstone and let him create a disgusting concoction. I rarely do treats. That night he cried himself to sleep. I had to tell him when I tucked him in—and I say had to for a reason here—that he was “the best boy ever” and I’ve been doing it ever since.