Do you know that August 13th of each year was designated as “Left-handers Day?”
This day was chosen to promote awareness of the inconveniences faced by left-handers in a predominantly right-handed world. It celebrates their uniqueness and difference. Indeed, these people, also called “southpaws” are very special because only 10% of the world’s population uses their left hands. While right-handed people uses the left sides of their brains, left-handed people uses the right-sides of theirs. There was a joke that only left-handed people are in their right mind!
When my daughter Alexandra was a little baby, I noticed that she reached out to grab her milk bottle, pacifier, rattle or toys using her little left hand. She would suck her little left thumb only. I knew at once she was inclined to the left although there was no left-hander in our family, none that we knew of.
Her paternal grandmother made a big fuss over this. “Why don’t you teach her to use her right hand instead? Force her to change while she is still young!”
Of course I would not do such a thing. I like to let Mother Nature take its course. If Alexandra was born a left-hander, so be it!
There is nothing wrong and so it was not an issue for me. As a mother, it was my duty to protect her right to be born a left-hander and to help her in whatever way possible.
Most tools are designed for the right-handers from the pencil sharpener to the computer mouse but over time, my daughter got used to them and she could use them just as any right-hander would.
Of course she was very clumsy and awkward when it comes to using the brooms, door-knobs, can-openers or scissors but with patience and practices, nothing could stop my girl from leading a normal life.
But when it comes to certain tasks like holding a pencil, a comb or a pair of chopsticks, it is strictly her left hand and not her right one.
Her handwriting was neat and beautiful and she could write with speed too.
She could comb and tie up her hair neatly on her own.
And she could pick up food gracefully with the chopsticks.
I am proud that she could proved her paternal grandmother’s fears as baseless. I am very confident she would do very well in a right-handed world.
The only problem we faced was to buy certain tools that are specially designed for such people. I have difficulties buying her a gift on her special day.
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188 Hugh Low Street, Ipoh 
Happy left handers day to Alexandra!
There are nothing wrong with left handers. Old people used to force children to write with their right hands, which are baseless superstitions. My boy used to pick things up with his left hands too. I always remind my dad to let nature take its own course – Left handers or right handers, they are still our adorable child 🙂
Hi Andrew,
Yes, you’re right about the older people’s misgivings. Some believed left-handers are inferior or born losers. I won’t have any of these. I let my daughter grew up happily as a left- hander and today, she could proved that she is just as good if not better, than most of her right-handed friends.
Happy Belated Left Handers Day to Alexandra. Left handers are very creative people 🙂
Hi Barb,
Thank you on behalf of my daughter…..ya, I can see she is quite creative in her writing and drawing but I am not sure it is a coincidence or a myth! 🙂
No worries.my son is also a left-hander and doing perfectly fine!yes the “oldies” told me to train him to use his right hand from young but like you, I decided he shall be unique and I am glad I let him be.he is now a fine young man and very successful in his career and still remains a left-hander!
Well done kimee and son! 🙂 And a toast to all left-handers who lives lives according to their own terms! 🙂
I am right-hander. But I try to use my left hand, say, to play handphone games.
I believe, like car tyres, some balancing is good for the brain also.
(Try it sometimes, play badminton with left hand holding the racket)
Hi 16LeechStreet,
Yes, it is possible to use both hands for multiple tasks. I’ve trained my daughter to use both her hands. It all boils down to patience and practices.