"My brother is a lovely guy but he looks quite "different." He has an addiction to body art and modifications. He's tattooed almost every inch of his body, including his eyeballs, and has dozens of piercings, subdermal implants, brands, self-inflicted scars, and dental mods to give him sharp-looking teeth. Dear Devil Kin, We only met up over Christmas, but my kids are TERRIFIED of him. The youngest had nightmares and was wetting the bed for weeks after our last holiday together."
"We've tried to explain that he's nice, but it just doesn't seem to get through. As the holidays approach, I am trying to navigate reintroducing our 5- and seven-year-old to their uncle. They're having none of it. Should I just call it off? I want them to know the lovely boy I grew up with, he's really fun and playful, but not at the cost of traumatizing them."
A parent reports that her children were terrified of an uncle covered in extensive body modifications, leading to nightmares and weeks of bedwetting. The children refuse further contact despite assurances that the uncle is nice, playful, and loving. Children are normally open-minded and often enjoy bizarre-looking characters, but they can also be afraid in ways adults do not anticipate, such as fear of clowns. Children sometimes pick up on parental attitudes toward appearance. A gradual, age-appropriate introduction to diverse appearances and playful pre-exposure, such as masks or explanations, can help reduce fear and build familiarity.
Read at Slate Magazine
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