Other people, whether strangers or family, will react in various ways that you may want to prepare a few stock responses. Your child will learn self-acceptance from hearing how you respond and later on self-advocacy from what you model. I've had several people physically recoil and look shocked when they notice my son reading in public. I kept my response brief and even toned - something along the lines of the comment, "Yes, he loves books" and I move on to the next topic. It has never gone farther than that in terms of negativity.
Great bit of advice here!
Acknowledge and move right along. Parents may become masters of the gracious segue. Accepting input as a compliment and then addressing the weather, a top news story (positive in nature), a compliment to the parent or their child, are all great ways to deflect.
