Ask Ms. Jessica Issue 30 – Children Can Be So Cruel
Added 2020-07-10 23:30:25 +0000 UTC
(The content for Ask Ms. Jessica comes from real questions from real people sent to AskMsJessica@gmail.com)
Dear Ms. Jessica,
I’m writing you because I don’t know who else to write. I’m a mutant girl in a small town. I may be the only one in my highschool. I only mutated recently and… and I don’t know how to deal with it. All the other kids call me a freak. They say I look like a freak, like an alien out of a sci-fi movie or like a monster out of a video game. They laugh at me. Pick on me. It’s… horrible.
I don’t hate my body… but I hate what my body has done. I’ve lost my friends, my social life. Even my parents look at me with disdain. I never asked for this. I know I look… weirder than even most mutant girls. I know I can look scary. But I’m still me! I don’t know why no one else can see that.
What can I do?
We’ve come a long way since mutations first started appearing, but people can still be so cruel. Heck, well into college people still wondered if they could pull my arms off or poke my eyes out. For some reason, some people just can’t handle anything different than themselves.
I want to let you know, that no matter what anyone tells you, you are beautiful. Everyone is beautiful in their own way. You are doing exactly what you should do, reach out for help, and that’s a beautiful thing to do. I know that the other kids might be mean to you, but that’s just because they can’t understand.
I’m not a psychologist, so there’s only so much help I can give. However, I do suggest you call the mutant crisis help-line if things get too difficult. They have volunteers waiting to help you, to talk to you.
I can’t promise that the other kids or your parents will come to accept you, but I can say that there is a good chance they will. Time heals all wounds. Eventually your mutation will stop being new and they will treat you like they always have. Maybe someone else will mutate. Or maybe a new reality show will come on the air. Kids are easily distracted. And your parents, if they love you, will love you no matter what your body is.
But until that time comes, I suggest you reach out to other mutants. I’m happy you reached out to me, but I think you should reach out to other mutants your age. Talk to them online. Hang out with them. Make some new friends. Maybe when your other friends and parents meet them, they will see that mutants aren’t any different from any other people.
Just remember, you aren’t alone. You have me, and you have hundreds, thousands, millions even, of other mutants that have gone through exactly what you have gone through. But nothing is permanent. This too will pass.
Never be ashamed of who you are.
Dr. Jessica Park
