Oh but they're such happy people

[wrblack]

Remember a mom who, having heard yet again a similar comment about her happy little girl, asked the person making the comment if they would like to come over and babysit the next time happy little girl decided to put the cat in the clothes dryer.
But, yes, Charlie is too easy going and too easily content. On the other hand I'm very pleased that he enjoys a good tickle so much. And we do not have and do not want a cat. -- Bob

[Jessie]

Tee hee hee hee hee (ok, that was MY evilness coming out!!). Welcome, welcome, welcome. We've been waiting for you to visit us on the dark side! ;D

No, seriously, I hope Em gets back to her little happy lovable self very soon.

The thing that, over the past year and a half, of hearing that ''they're all happy" thing is that it made me wonder if something was wrong with Jason because he is NOT happy and cheery all the time. He's gotten better, but the child is a grump. And, there is also that factor that someone else mentioned about some genes being even stronger than the 21st! Hubby's family (the men anyway) are grouchy old farts and the apple has not fallen far from the tree! LOL - OMG if you guys ever meet Brian, don't tell him I said that.

And - Bob - thanks for the visual about the cat in the dryer. As much as Jason loves MY first born child (the cat), I now would not put it past him to do that. Thanks, I needed one more thing to be paranoid about.


Jessie

[Valerie]

I'm not sure where the "happy all the time" stereotype came from. Might be nice, though....

Nicholas definitely has his moments, he can be grouchy, he can have a fit when he's not getting his way. He gets into stuff he's not supposed to, and he's sneaky about it. I'm kind of glad he does, cause in my mind, I guess that means he's thinking and plotting just like anyone else would, and I'm happy that he does!

I will say, that his moods are more mellow. His tantrums and grouchiness nowhere compares to how my older son was at that age! Not sure if that has anything to do with the DS, or if he just has a mellower temperament!

[Kristen]

That always bugged me. Can't a good dispostion be a nice attribute and left alone? It's like people try to rob others of their good qualities when they say things like that. I am of the mind that we son't let DS be an excuse nor a reason for Carter being Carter. If he is who he is, why would we say oh it's the DS about anything like it's a seprate matter.

Incidentially, want to come by the next time we give the amoxicillin? His head turns 180 and he spits crud out and everything. REAL HAPPY LOL!

[Chris]

I agree with JT's mom. Sarah is also motivated by people. She lights up when she is around a lot of people. She appears happy because she gets her energy from being around people. She also has a very good memory when it comes to remembering people. This kid is a social butterfly and she is happiest when people are paying attention to her.

As far as always being happy, I think Sarah's hairdresser, therapists and doctors could tell you a few stories. Yes, her head does spin!

Wouldn't it be nice if our children really were perpetually happy? I don't think the people who make the dumb "they're always so happy" comment understand how frustrating it is for many of our kids due to the lack of communication. When people give me the "they're so happy" comment, I always say, "yes, she is happy right now!".

Chris

[Kaylis]

My Mikah sounds so much like JT -- he's very much focussed on people and not things (unless they play music). Last week his Early Intervention person used me as a motivator (grinning and being goofy) to get him to take 200 individual steps holding only one hand. He won't usually cruise a foot or two for a toy, and cruising is much easier for him.

He is usually a very cheerful person (but so is his brother) so I also hear the stereotype quite often. I usually say something about not knowing if most kids with Down syndrome are happy, but he usually is. If he isn't then something is definitely wrong -- either he's ill or he's frustrated because someone isn't letting him do what he wants. Mikah has recently begun showing his "twos" at only 17 months. I really hope he picks up more signs soon! Until recently though being grumpy or unhappy for more than a few minutes usually meant an ear infection or URI, sometimes worse.

Kaylis

[CC]

Hey LAURA girl, was just reading stuff here tonight, as I am wide awake LOL and I noticed you said "[I am going to do physical harm to the next person that tells Ethan to "give them five"." Hmmmm just wondering girl, why does that bother you sooo, I mean ETHAN is such a young guy yet, I would probably do that to?? Soooo inquiring minds would love to know why that would be a bad thing??

BTW how you feeling MOM to BE??

CC ~

[Jodi]

They are such...

Happy
Loving
Stubborn
Sweet
Special
Friendly
Innocent
Angelic
blah
blah
blah

I think I'm still cranky...

[Claire]

Sorry you had a bad week, hope it gets better. When people say that, I think they are mistaking "They are always happy" with the childlike innocence in some adults with DS. They see them almost always happy because they are probably doing things at the time that they like. But let me tell you, some peole should be around when Adam doesn't want to cooperate. When I give my school presentations for elementary school or college I have a slide with Adam crying, he has the saddest pout and it is the ugliest kid I ever saw. :D No lie I will post it to prove it to you. I then tell them "And NO they are not always happy" That is how I end my presentations and usually get a laugh from the crowd because of the picutre. :D

[laurasnowbird]

CC-

It drives me nuts it was almost NEVER done with my typical kids. No one goes up to my friends' kids and asks them to "give them five". I think the main reason it bothers me is because it presumes that he is unable to verbalize, and the little guy CAN talk! The other reason it bothers me is because it is a physical, touching kind of communication, not hugging to be sure, but putting your hands on people that you don't know well. You and I don't go around slapping hands with people we don't know, most likely.

As for the mommy thing, I'm feeling good, thank you! I struggled for a little while with migraines, and they were severe enough to require medication. Now when I feel one threatening, I take the medication before it gets a stranglehold on me, LOL! We've been talking about the baby around Ethan a lot, but I don't think he gets it, KWIM? Although he has been very insistent about sitting on my rapidly disappearing lap lately, and he hadn't been doing that before, so I'm sure he knows that SOMETHING is up!

[Cbean]

;D He, he he! Look out everyone, Polly's baaaaack!

OMG what a busy weekend we had, but......

My bug is back and she's better than before, Hey laa Hey laa, my bug is back. LOL, no more hissing "thingy" roach (I still enjoy that!) but more like a beautiful ladybug!

Unfortunately Em had her PT session on Friday and still had the "junk" in her system and decided to go haywire! Yikes! So, our session was basically her therapist teaching me what she wanted to see Emmy doing. So there I was on my stomach as she explained what she wanted Em to be doing more of, etc etc. I loooove her therapists by the way.

So Saturday, little bug rose with the first crack of sunlight at the way-too-early hour of 5 but with her attitude back in check. Don't mind seeing her too much when she wakes up that way.

So in between all of the weekends activities (chores) I worked with her and we did plenty of tummy time. This is Em's least favorite activity. Grrrr.

So, after being sick, Em's kind of jump-started - tolerating her tummy time and even smiling during it (WOW!) and working on rolling over. She really likes lying on her side and is reaching for toys much more. AND yesterday she rolled over! This was a very long process (kind of like watching a movie in slow motion), but she did it! Don't know when it will happen again, but we're on our way!

This morning after feeding her, she got a little fussy, so I popped her in her swing and proceeded to fold the laundry. Well, Em thought this was great 'cause I was making it fun. (Good thing the neighbors can't see in!) Then I remembered what some of you were saying about "being motivated by people." I think that is totally the case with Miss Em. I try to get her to look at toys and she's all too busy making eye contact with me. So just goes to show I'm quite a simpleton b/c all it takes is a little toothless grin to get me going!

Thanks for letting me gripe guys, now I'm back to gushing.

[Debbie]

I really dislike those kind of statements. Kids and adult's who have Down syndrome are all different. We are not all the same. Some of us may have a quiet personality and be a little shy (like me) or they may be a social type of personality and be outgoing. I was never like the stereotypical idea that people have in their mind's. I can be grumpy sometimes. I can be disagreeable (rarely though) but no it is not in my nature to be in a "sunny" mood. I am usually quiet by nature. Little children can be happy like that for a time but then they start to grow and discovery themselves. It is the same for everyone including children who have Down syndrome.

[Chester]

Perfectly said Debbie!

[Jessie]

Yes, I agree, perfectly said Debbie! I love to hear your opinion on these types of things.

Yesterday I took Jason to Meijer's with me and you know I can understand why people think the way they do if they don't know a person who has Ds. Jason was so happy and wanted to "talk" to everyone and had a huge smile on his face the entire time we were in the store. There is not one person that he came across that would have had that mis-conception dispelled for them - he was acting very "stereotypical".

I will have to admit that before I ever experienced the haircut excorsims I had the same opinion. The first date that me and Brian went on I made the same ignorant comment to him. I will NEVER EVER forget the look on his face - it was like, honey you ain't seen nothin' yet! And boy was he right! LOL


Jessie

[Cbean]

Thanks for sharing your opinion Debbie - I have to get used to you as Kay, without the little crazy guy pic you used to have under your name! I always love to hear your side and you said exactly what I was trying to communicate while I was in a state of stress and annoyance. I just don't understand why human beings always have to "group" and classify and seperate. What are we? A bunch of herding dogs?