A controversial topic that I need to address

In light of recent events surrounding the controversial topic of 'midget wrestling’ I feel it is now time to put forward my feelings and stand with the rest of the loving community that has welcomed us with open arms.

The subject has been particularly hard for me to digest for two main reasons. One, the sport itself and everything it stands for in that people with dwarfism are 'willingly’ being used for the violent entertainment of others, and two the lack of understanding and backlash received for simply standing up for what we believe in and want for the community as a whole. It is this negativity that has prevented me from airing my viewpoint sooner. From the off, the subject itself utilises a derogatory slur that many within the dwarfism community find completely offensive, but I'm not here to rattle off the many reasons why I don't support this 'sport’, I'm here to offer my own experience. I am an 'average’ height mother to a gorgeous little boy who happens to be small, and we were catapulted into this amazing community when Callum was only 4 months old. Callum was born with a large head and it took four months to realise that his long bones were measuring shorter than expected. This eventually led to a positive diagnosis for Achondroplasia, which I'm sure you now know is the most common form of dwarfism. Not only have we had to go through numerous medical appointments at multiple locations but we have also had to learn and understand many medical terms that we never thought we would encounter. The early days were simply gut wrenching to go through and I was filled with dread and fear for what the future would hold, but looking back now it is a memory that I wish I could redo from a more positive perspective.

The turning point for us personally was attending the Dwarf Sports Association Games in Birmingham last year were we met many people, both average height and little, and came away filled with encouragement for the normal life Callum could lead. However the world is still full of negative influences and it is with a heavy heart that we hear that some people with dwarfism suffer abuse, sometimes on a daily basis for just going about their life as normal. This abuse is most commonly verbal with the term 'midget’ being thrown carelessly around but sometimes it is even physical and it is simply because of their size. It is for this reason that I strongly disagree that society should be promoting a 'sport’ like 'midget’ wrestling which glamourises violence against dwarf bodies and puts them in the spotlight for entertainment only. I understand that these people have chosen to fulfil this path but I simply can't support a minority that puts the greater community at risk, especially when that includes the future of my son.

With any other disability in mind would you laugh at that person for simply being the person they were born to be. Would you put them in a ring and watch them fight, geering as they compete for your entertainment? You wouldn't laugh or point at them, or record and photograph them against their will, let alone pick them up or touch them. So why is dwarfism any different. It is because of this alone that I worry for Callum's future. In today's world you would think we would be more accepting of differences. Just like with sex and race, size does not define a person and as a community I hope that we can continue to stand together to change the future of our children who are 'small... that's all’.

#Achondroplasia #thelittlepuffin #wrestling #ourreality #dwarfism #15monthsold