This past week, a parent reached out to me to ask how to help her child feel comfortable wearing a new leg brace. Memories instantly flooded in as I have always looked and dressed differently from other kids with “grandma” shoes and eventually braces. When we added crutches, more braces, and a mask, the stares from people increased. My quip became, “I’m going for the iron man look. How am I doing?”

What could I tell this parent who was hurting for her child?

First, it may help to have the other kids understand that the brace helps. Most will then accept it and go on.

If possible, get the device in a fun pattern or favorite color. It brightens things up and makes people smile.

Then, humor helps. People (even adults) stare. It helps to smile back at them. I also have found that fun socks make a difference. I mean, if they are going to stare, we might as well make them smile.

Of course, using humor means that you have accepted the circumstance and understand the way it looks to others. At one point, a fall meant using crutches with one arm in a cast from elbow to tips of two fingers, a bandaged knee, and three various leg braces. I believe I also had to wear a mask at that time. Trust me. People stared. I truly wanted to come up with a better, more creative story than what happened. (I tripped on the sidewalk. Yup… a sidewalk.)

While I didn’t feel as if I had any great advice as to how to handle the other kids questions, I am hoping that just knowing others understand will help and that this will help her see the opportunity to turn something hard into a smile.