Re: Opinion - Little People, Big World

May 22, 2006

Yesterday I attended a family party, my cousin who isn't the most

eloquent when it comes to discussing my dwarfism with her kids told

me that her daughters love Little People Big World.

How the follow it each week, know the are big fans of each kid.

They follow each child's personal weekly story or problem and cheer

them on and they know more about LP's than any other Prime Time TV

show could have ever taught them

The show was never perfect, but , it's certainly the best depiction

of dwarfism I've seen on National TV that I can recall.

And it's real.

I remember as a kid people tell me about LP's they'd see on TV and

it wold be the occasional kid on the local news or PBS show.

We've all come a long long way.

At the end of the day, this isn't just the Rolff's show. It's every

Dwarf's show.

May 22, 2006

I agree with you a 100 percent. We all come different places and faces different

barriers in life. I live off just social security disability and barely make

all my bills. The Roloffs seem to be well off in the the money department and

own a farm. So many of us barely meet our medical expenses. iI have a cap

because of medicare and have to pay out of pocket. I have had 1 hip and 2 knees

replacments at the age of 37. I also experience things every day that sometimee

upset me. Im an glad the tlc is educating the public about some types of

dwarfism. I wish the second season would follow another person who is living on

ssd and not a former lpa president. Life is a struggle from some us. We all have

to empower ourselves to overcome individuals. In addditon, there are tons who

are in adoption or chose roles in the community which are portray people with

dwarfism in negative roles.

Money talks and i wish i could have all the vehicles and be able to afford to

remodel my house to suit me. The last note is i looked into the stool the matt

rollof sells to purchase for my home over 1,000 and insurance doesnt covoer

that. Not all of us have that even for social security.

This is my personal opinion and in not aimed at anyone but im glad that erin

posted this because I have felt like this throughout the whole Roloffs Series.

erin <la_petita2@...> wrote:

I was finally able to watch episodes of the TLC Special concerning

the Rolloff family until just recently. During the weeks before and

during it was airing, I was a bit apprehensive about watching it

considering the mediocre " this is what dwarfs are and how they live "

type message format which dwarfs have been typically placed

among 'educational' televised productions within the last few years.

May 22, 2006

, did u do a documentary on HBO? Did u get lengthening surgery?

erin <la_petita2@...> wrote: I was finally able to watch episodes of the

TLC Special concerning

the Rolloff family until just recently.

---------------------------------

Shonica = Sweet Sensational Sister

---------------------------------

May 22, 2006

Hi ~ Do you think there are very many lps up for adoption these days? I

thought this generation was the first one in general to be at home with their

birth families.

Thus, making it harder for other people to adopt lp children.

Just asking~

Patty

PS~ I am also willing to go out on a BIG limb and say that I believe that in

this day and age with the help of LPA and different support groups, the

internet, , etc., that average size parents are able to raise lp children. Of

course, we will never know how it FEELS, but we are their flesh and blood. They

are a part of us~ and we do know them inside and out.

I think sometimes when the sentiment comes up that " we " can't raise lp children,

parents get somewhat insulted on the list. (Although I know that's a very common

thought here)

Just give me a minute to get my flame retardant undies on here~ and then

everything will be okay!!

Opinion - Little People, Big World

I was finally able to watch episodes of the TLC Special concerning

the Rolloff family until just recently. During the weeks before and

during it was airing, I was a bit apprehensive about watching it

considering the mediocre " this is what dwarfs are and how they live "

type message format which dwarfs have been typically placed

among 'educational' televised productions within the last few years.

However, I was very surprised and relieved that the show eloquenltly

displayed each of the Rolloff family member's own unique

personality, and played down -if not eliminated- any airs of

aggressive, if not confrontational approaches towards educating the

public on dwarfs, but gently guided the viewer into an american

family lifestyle whose setbacks compared minor against more

seemingly typical issues that every middle class american faces;

money, household repairs and husbandry among their off-spring.

Although I felt that this was not the most typical example of

dwarfs today (as many are put up for adoption the moment they are

born, and/or born into families who know not how to correctly care

for them and so they are left to their own devices- as joining the

circus, etc.) I worried for the dwarfs who might be compared against

the Rolloff's. Since we are so few and in between, it's very likely

that the American public -who watched the program- may view all

dwarfs as this seemingly happy and well-to-do individual and may be

shunned if they are not.

I myself experienced a type of exclusion in junior high because I

was not part of the 'preppy group' as the majority of my school-

mates were- but because I was an outsider, not only in my

physicality but in my views and my unnconventional background as

well.

Unfortunatley this set a precedent for the people in my community to

somehow believe that I was not 'living up to my full potential' or

following the example of induividuals like Matt Rolloff who were

occasionaly given a spotlight in our town's newspaper to show 'that

dwarfs are people too'.

It's unfortunate that with such a small population as we are, we are

expected to somehow follow the leader, the leader being the dwarf

attorney from the priveledged back-ground, or the smiling car wash

attendent in small-town america who just doesn't give a damn about

how he looks- because some of us do, and some of the issues we face

on a daily basis are more sonstant and stronger than what the

Rolloff's face.

Cheers to the Rollofs, I am glad that God has blessed them with such

a wonderful and powerful force within their unit and themselves, but

I only hope that the American public who watched the program will

not ever judge each and every dwarf against them and their

individual example of dwarfism.

erin

===

May 22, 2006

Grant and/or Patty:

Who said LPs think APs can't raise LP kids????? Most of us were raised by AP

parents, and I suspect most feel their parents did a fine job, especially

considering the lack of resources. I would be very surprised if the majority

(or even close) of LPs agreed with your statement.

You may have heard more about the bad experiences because of the damage done

to LPs whose families can't/won't accept them, but that doesn't consider those

of us who grew up in loving, accepting homes.

Besides, some of my best friends are APs! They can't help being the way they

are, so why should they not be allowed to raise LP kids?? :-))))))

What I feel more strongly about than who raises LP kids is that they have

ACCESS to other LPs - but that doesn't have to be in their own home.

Alyce :-)

(age 49+, raised by my biological, AP parents)

Grant & Patty Bowers <gpsab@...> wrote: