It's a shame...

Okay, I know I just posted about comments people make recently, but yesterday I was walking into Kroger with Brogan in the cart and Avery following behind me in her walker, and there was a woman who was waiting for us to go by so that she could get to her car, and she looked at Avery and - with a sympathetic sag of her shoulders and a tragic look on her face - said, "It's a shame she's handicapped." This has bothered me more than any other comment anyone has made. I lay awake thinking about it last night, and it still gives me a hollow burning feeling in my heart when I think about it. I've been trying so hard to not let it bother me, because I'm sure she thought she was being kind or something, but what right has she, or anyone else for that matter, to think that anything about my beautiful little girl is a shame? Why is it any more acceptable for her to say that to me than it would be for me to go up to someone and say "It's a shame your child is so ugly" or even, for that matter, "It's a shame your child is so short." Who's to say that being short is something to be ashamed of? It's not, and I certainly never want my child to feel ashamed of her physical abilities and limitations. Really, I don't understand what reaction she was expecting from me. I'm sure she didn't expect it to be hurtful, but did she really expect gratitude for her thoughtfulness or something? I don't understand what she was thinking. She was lucky I didn't slap her. As it was, I was so flabbergasted that I just stared at her open-mouthed for a moment, then looked at Avery who luckily didn't hear (did she think she wouldn't be able to understand???), then stared at the woman again, and after a second or two all I could think of to say was, "She's amazing."