Why some amputees prefer to wear shorts

I bet you assumed amputees only wear shorts because they are easier to slide on than a pair of pants and allow them access to make adjustments throughout the day to their prosthesis. You're not entirely wrong. Sliding on a pair of skinny jeans indeed feels like a Paralympic sporting event, and it is helpful to be able to reach down and adjust your prosthesis as needed. You might not know that we sometimes wear shorts because we are sick and tired of strangers asking us why we are limping or walking "differently." When I wear full-length pants, most people can't tell that I have on a prosthesis. This is partly because the pant leg hides the protective cover I wear over the prosthesis, which is shaped similarly to a lower leg. So it catches people off guard when I take a few steps favoring my left side and sometimes tripping over my right. Then there are the dirty looks when you park in a handicapped spot and the perplexed faces when you use a wheelchair. You can almost see the "She looks normal to me" thought printed across their foreheads. So, even though it comes with even more stares, when I wear shorts, people tend to look down, acknowledge WHY I walk differently, and carry on. It's my way of saying, "this is why I walk this way. Now that you get it, there is no need for you to approach me and ask me what's wrong." Now can I please enjoy this trip to Target in peace?

Somedays, we would rather just put it all out there because we don't have the energy not to. Although this is one of the more calculated reasons for shorts, there is yet another reason. Sometimes we wear shorts because we are human and we feel like it. Shocking, I know. Maybe it's hot outside, and my one remaining leg would like to breathe. Maybe shorts look better with my outfit. We don't always need a reason. Occasionally, we get to wear something "normal" and without much thought.

So the next time you put on a pair of cut-offs and worry that your legs aren't tan or smooth enough, remember this is a luxury. Wear them, knowing that your biggest concern isn't one that most people will notice, and if you get any stares, it's probably because you are ROCKING those shorts.