He’s absolutely perfect just the way he is.

But that doesn’t mean everyone is going to see him the same way I do.

Here’s how I deal with ignorant people.

1. I Tell It Like It Is – There is no shame in Cooper’s developmental delays

In fact, I now believe it’s his delays that make him so much more special than most kids his age.

And I don’t mean in a special needs kind of way, I mean he’s just an awesomely wonderful kid.

But unfortunately, there’s some people who can’t see past Cooper’s speech and his inability to understand some of things that are said to him.

To those people, I say shame on you! Special needs are nothing to look down upon and I find it sad when people look at Coop as if there is something wrong with him.

2. Educate the Nay-Sayers

Yeah, those people I was just referring to need more than a kick in the head.

They need to be educated on what your child’s needs are.

Let them know what’s going on with your child, then, make it clear that if they can’t see anything but the “bad” then they don’t need to stick around for the good.

I advise printing off material for all of your extended family and friends to learn about your child’s needs, then let that be the end of it.

When they see how it’s totally not a big deal to you, chances are they’ll come around eventually.

Until then, forget about ‘em.

3. Don’t Get Too Defensive

Confession: I have real trouble following my own advice on this one.

Anytime someone has something negative to say about my Coop, I want to throat-punch them.

Okay, maybe that’s a little extreme, but you get my point.

Still, getting into a knock-down, drag out with an idiot who doesn’t get your child is so not worth it.

Instead, politely inform them that there’s nothing wrong with your child, however they (the person insulting your child) might consider getting a brain scan for activity.

Then, just walk away.

After all, it’s not yours or your child’s fault there are bumbling idiots in this world who open their mouths before they open their minds.

For kids, the feelings are similar and the change can result in some unwanted behavior. Here’s a few tips for getting your children back into their regular routine as painlessly as possible.

Prepare Your Child

Don’t let the first day of school creep up without warning. The weekend before, explain to your child that he or she will be returning to school again soon. Take the preparation one step further by reinforcing bed time. Much like our minds and bodies need time to readjust to our sleep patterns, kids need it, too. Getting them to bed earlier will make the Monday morning wake-up call much easier to handle.

Get Back to YOUR Routine

Kids look at our behavior much more than we realize. If you are reinstating your own bedtime and setting your alarm to wake up early each morning, chances are your child will fall back into their own routine easier.

Preserve Holiday Memories

If your child is having trouble letting go of the holidays, have him or her prepare a memory box. Gather photos and other keepsakes, like a piece of wrapping paper or an ornament, and have your child decorate a shoebox to place these items in. Explain to your child that he or she can look in the box anytime they want to remember how much fun the holidays were. This can become a tradition for years to come.

Let Them Protest

If your child has a less-than-happy reaction to the news of returning to school, let them have their meltdown. The truth is, we’d like to have our own pity party over returning to work and we shouldn’t expect our children to feel any different. So, give them time to express their feelings then firmly explain that though you understand and sympathize with them, they still have to return to school. Chances are, having a little meltdown now will prevent any problems the morning of.

Show Extra Love

Separation anxiety is often the culprit of children’s disdain for returning to school, so be sure to spend a little extra time snuggling and loving on your child so they will feel secure.