When Darling Becomes Dangerous

This. This is one of my greatest fears.

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That my non-speaking child will be perceived as a threat and lethal action taken.

I dread the day he ceases to be seen as cute and is perceived as a threat. It's easy enough for me to imagine a slightly different situation with Teddy that looks equally dangerous to people without context. Whether it's a knife, a power tool or any other "weapon," I know Teddy wouldn't process police commands, even if he understood them, quickly enough. I know that his hysterical giggles, especially when he thinks he's being silly, could be mistaken for maniacal laughter. I know he doesn't have the words to explain his actions, and that not responding can be perceived as non-compliance. I know his unsteady gait could be mistaken for alcohol or drug impairment.

I also recognize that I'm not alone in this. So many other mamas fear the same thing. For many, it's because our babies are different than society's norm. (Honestly, we're all different, so what is the norm?) But for others, it's simply the color of their babies' skin.