Tori Roloff understands.
She doesn’t blame anyone who has questions about her son and/or the condition with which he’s been diagnosed.
This is why the popular Little People, Big World star patiently sat and responded to inquiries this week from followers on International Dwarfism Awareness Day.
One person, for example, was curious about Tori and husband Zach’s son, Jackson, who has Achondroplasia.
This is the most common form of dwarfism and it occurs in about one out of 26,000 to 40,000 babies.
People with achondroplasia — which is evident at birth — have a relatively long trunk and shortened upper parts of their arms and legs.
“Does dwarfism [also] include any developmental delays? Speech wise? Or is Jackson just a quiet kid?” one follower asked.
Here is how Tori replied:
"Dwarfism does not come with developmental delays. There are always exceptions.
"J has hit all milestones of an average height babe. Speech can sometimes be effected [sic] because of the jaw structure but in Jackson’s case, he is just very observant and a little bit of a perfectionist and can get embarrassed if he doesn’t say something right."
She added:
"I would say that’s what keeps him on the quieter side. Except at home. At home, he talks all day long haha."
Just last week, Amy Roloff let slip that Tori and Zach’s impending daughter — DUE ANY DAY NOW! — will also be a dwarf.
Tori had previously said the couple was not going to get the blood test done that would reveal this information… but they either changed their mind or Amy had bad information.
Either way, Tori is married to a little person and has at least one little person child.
She’s an expert on the topic and is happy to pass along her knowledge.
“I sometimes forget that my husband and son are ‘different’ because it’s so normal in our family. But I really strive to use this platform for good!" she recently wrote on Instagram, explaining:
"I get lots of questions from people (especially mamas).
"So if you have any questions about dwarfism drop it down below and I’ll answer as many questions as I can.”
Followers weren’t shy about taking Roloff up on this offer, either.
Social media asked questions such as: “Is J’s dwarfism different than Zach? Amy? Matt?”
Tori answered that one and wrote:
“Zach, J and Amy all have achondroplasia… Matt has dystrophic dwarfism!”
Another person wondered: “What’s one thing you didn’t know but other people should know about people that are dwarfs? Like things you should or shouldn’t say etc.?”
Jackson’s mom had a solid reply to this one:
“Trust me. They’re really are JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. Everyone just wants to be included and talked to like a human being."
Zach has also commented on this subject in the past, saying the important thing is to really encourage his son because — as he knows from experience — it takes a dwarf multiple efforts to do what average-size people can do just the very first time.
“You have to encourage a dwarf child a little more because it will take them five steps to do what others can do in two,” said Zach back in May 2017, adding at the time:
“But I knew, dwarf or not, I’m going to parent my child with the mentality that not everyone gets a trophy. You have to earn it.”
As for the child on the way for these Roloffs?
Tori didn’t say very much in this Q&A, except to confirm the most important thing:
"All you need to know about baby girl right now is she is a healthy girlsie!!”