|
Post by SuziF on Jun 9, 2004 11:24:51 GMT -5
CindyLou! Can we put that on our next shirt girlfriend ? "--she doesn't ride without training wheels-but hey, she RIDES! " ;D Gasrh! I hear you all so loudly! We were at a family reunion on Sun & I musta herd those lines 50x in a few hours! Which, I find incredible because there wern't very many comments about Meri's 3 brothers ~ go figure!
|
|
|
Post by cindylou on Jun 9, 2004 11:29:27 GMT -5
the neat thing is that all my neighbors are sure she's going to master bike riding without training wheels--so the kids sit on the curb chanting "Kaylee! Kaylee! Kaylee!" whenever she tries riding her sisters bike. We do have a buncha great neighbors... speaking of t-shirts though--one neighbor wore one yesterday that said "SMILE--IT CONFUSES PEOPLE.." cracked me up!!
|
|
|
Post by momofrussell on Jun 9, 2004 16:47:38 GMT -5
Have faith Cindylou!!!! ;D We met a couple through mutual friends when I was pregnant with Russell. Their son, Josh had DS and learned to ride a bike!!!! He was about 7 or 8 at the time we met him!!! They opted to pay for private PT after the 0-3 program and that helped. I know we all can't afford that but, riding without training wheels CAN happen ;D
A.
|
|
|
Post by amyzimoski on Jun 9, 2004 16:54:17 GMT -5
Laura- I too have been asked this question many many times. It is not a question that offends me but is pretty hard to answer. My responce most of the time is that it is hard to tell just like it is hard to tell with any kid her age. Until a child starts school and starts being tested it is difficult to tell how smart a child is and even then it all depends on how a child applies them selves. I have learned to try and explain to people that my daughter is just the same as they are....just a little different looking and a little slower, but she puts her pants on the same way they do God Bless! Amy
|
|
|
Post by Chris on Jun 9, 2004 18:49:48 GMT -5
When Sarah was an infant she was tiny and it was more difficult to see that she has Ds. People would always be surprised when they asked how old she was since she looked and acted much younger. When I would tell them that she had Ds, they often asked if I was sure or comment that she only had a mild case. My MIL still insists that Sarah only has "a little bit of Down syndrome". It doesn't bother me since Grandma just thinks Sarah is perfect.
Sarah is now 2 3/4 years old and is very large for a child with Ds. She still walks and moves like a baby and people are still shocked to find out how old she is. I just tell them that she is delayed but will do almost everything that a typical child does, it will just take longer.
I am so proud of my daughter and I welcome questions from strangers. I believe that most people are genuinely interested and mean no harm. Sarah usually ends up charming them anyway. ;D
Chris
|
|
|
Post by Debbie on Jun 9, 2004 19:36:40 GMT -5
I have had people in the past tell me I must have a mild case of Down syndrome too. Most often though, people are mainly surprised and yes shocked when they find out I have the Mosaic Down syndrome. I can read and write well. Sometimes that catches them off guard. Using the computer like I do, I have been told I am a computer geek. I am not a computer geek by any means, I could never get a job by using the computer because of the other thing's I don't know or understand.
By not being a parent, I don't know how it must be for you in your daily life. By living as the person who has it though, I can tell you how I feel and what happens in my life.
|
|
|
Post by steffipoo on Jun 12, 2004 2:20:04 GMT -5
Laura I usta get that all the time but geez its been years so hopefully the same will happen for you.Ignoramous ?'s I guess I prefer them to stares but somedays...grr ya know? LOL Steff
|
|
|
Post by ourangelalicia on Jun 13, 2004 1:36:33 GMT -5
When Ali was born everyone denied she had DS, and then when it was confirmed everyone said that she has a very mild case. This is just from looking at her at two weeks old..it was ridiculous! Love really is blind though, nobody thought she looked like she had DS, but I look back at her newborn pictures now and it is VERY obvious to me! For the most part people are surprised to hear she has DS but don't make comments like that. Although after this topic started and I didn't think I had anything to add...we went up to my in laws yesterday and my FIL gave me something! He told us that he had been talking to some coworkers who had asked him if he had grandkids, he said he did and that one of them was "special". They asked why and he said because "she has a touch of Down Syndrome." A TOUCH??? Give me a break people! I'm sure it is just his way of still being a little bit in denial...but she either has it or she doesn't and she is too young to tell if she has a "touch" or not. Lol...it just made me laugh. It really is my fault for not educating them more....but at least my in laws weren't worried about my second daughter getting DS from lack of oxygen at birth! I had a friend ask me about that one..... It's amazing how little people know about it sometimes!
|
|
|
Post by Kristen on Jun 14, 2004 12:55:40 GMT -5
Laura, I respond like you do. What bugs me is that at least in this area there is a big thing in the support groups like you have it or you don't there is no degreee. To say so is to be in denial. What is THAT all about? Everyone is an individual and DS is a very individual pattern. Carter's chromosome replication is not necessarily like anyone else's and his own biochemistry determines how genetics play out like on EVERYONE. Obviously no two kids are alike. I hate to hear that because talk about selling someone short as an individual.
|
|
|
Post by matthew'smom on Jun 16, 2004 20:40:18 GMT -5
I got this question alot when Matthew was first born as well. What I always wanted to ask is "would you ask a parent of a typical child how intelligent they are?" I find it very offensive-as if Matthew is going to walk around with his IQ posted on his forehead for the rest of his life!
|
|
|
Post by christie on Jun 16, 2004 22:36:43 GMT -5
Matthew's Mom, I couldn't AGREE with you more
CC
|
|
|
Post by gwen on Jun 17, 2004 20:32:47 GMT -5
My son is usually with me and maybe listening, so I say what I want my son hear. Something like; "yes he is a fine boy and I'm proud of him, but he sometimes needs to listen better when I tell him to put away his shoes and socks. If the person is really interested, I turn back into the teacher I used to be and try to explain the differing effects of Down syndrome. But mostly I stress that he's a boy who likes baseball and splashing in puddles and the same stuff as most kids.
|
|
|
Post by Stan and Harry's Dad on Jun 18, 2004 10:15:54 GMT -5
the one i get is "how far is he on the spectrum?" we've got a TRAMPOLINE, does that count?
|
|
|
Post by momofrussell on Jun 18, 2004 12:11:38 GMT -5
LMAO Stan and Harry's Dad... Trampoline! Now THAT is good!!!
A.
|
|
|
Post by nikky on Jun 18, 2004 21:16:15 GMT -5
i get that all the time too. now that kayla is older, people say, "oh, i thought it was gonna be much worse." people can be so heartless. or they say, "oh, she's not as bad as the others...." and go on the name reasons why.
kinda off topic, but still related, i hate when people say, "oh, i would've never been able to take care of a child with special needs." or "didn't you find out she had that while you were pregnant?" like i got snuck or something! the nerve of these people! even my own mother blames my docter for not telling me that kayla had ds, because then i would've had the option to abort her. my mom thinks they TRICKED me into having a child with special needs. little does my mom know, i had an idea the whole time, and couldn't wait to see my baby, no matter what.
(vent, sorry)
|
|