To a certain extent I can relate to your story, Lauren.

My mother went into hospital with scarlet fever when she was 18 months old. All children in that ward contracted polio. I don't have to tell you, a nurse, how that impacted their lives, some more than others.

In those days children just had to fit in at school. Often teachers were not kind.

I'm proud to say my mother rose above some of the treatment and proved herself again, and again, and again.

I taught two boys, one with spina bifida whose dad was an elite sportsman, and another who'd had a cleft palate.

When they brought their baby photos into class to share, the children asked what had happened to them.

I was already ready for this and asked the boys if they would like to explain, which they did with ease.

Their parents had prepared them for a world of questions and to be strong in rejection.

There were no rejections.

When you open the doors of acceptance, when you are totally honest with children, when you are able to show that difference and acceptance of difference allows us all to be better humans, life goes on, and we are all the better for it.