Always My Leg First

The other day when we came home from the gym, Callie says to me…
“Mama, when people look at me, they don’t look at my face. They look at my leg first. Always at my leg first.” It hurt. 
She’s ten so she’s very perceptive and aware for her age. As her mama I dont want her to have to deal with the inquisitive looks, the curious stares, and the tilts of people’s heads as they work through what her prosthetic is…. But we have to. 
So we talked about owning our truths. 
We talked about how Mama wears an insulin pump on her waist, infusion set in her leg, and glucose sensor in her arm….and people look at that too. 
We talked about how being different is ok because everyone is different. 
We talked about how we can smile at the curious people in hopes that the feel comfortable approaching her for a question. 
We talked about answering questions about her leg with strength and grace. 
We talked about how most people are generally just simply curious and don’t mean anything by looking at her leg. 
We talked about how being different makes us stronger. 
Braver. 
Bolder.
Kind.
Empathetic.
Warriors.