Post by andrewsmom on Mar 28, 2006 14:38:57 GMT -5
That might be too broad a question and the answers might go on and on and on! ;D
I posted awhile back asking for advice on how to approach people with DS as I would LOVE to talk with them and get their point of view on things. You all gave me wonderful advice and things to "break the ice" and start a conversation.
So here I am at Stop and Shop this morning with Andrew and my daughter. I am going down the frozen food aisle when I hear a woman arguing with a young man over which frozen breakfast he liked. Yup...you guessed it...he had DS. He looked like he was maybe 25 to 30 years old.
So armed with all that wonderful knowledge you all so nicely gave me, what did I do?? I stood there. I did nothing! I couldn't even remember one little thing you all had told me! I froze!!!
So as I was standing there trying to compose myself and rack this brain of mine, they turned around and left! Well, I wasn't going to let them get away so easily! I RAN down the aisle while telling my poor daughter "hurry up, let's go!". ohhh.....poor Marissa.
I flew down the next aisle and they weren't there! So now I am like a woman on a mission. A mad woman!! I am running from aisle to aisle stopping only to "scan" down them for these people. My poor daughter looked up at me and said "Mom, do you even know what you're looking for?" So I answered, "yes sweetie, I just haven't found it yet."
So off we go, now heading for the front of the store. We turned the corner and lo and behold.....there they are!!!!! They're at the checkout! Even though I haven't gotten everything on my list, I head for the checkout too.
Now I (for some unexplained reason) don't want to seem "suspicious" to them so I very smoothly saunder to the lane beside theirs. I think this is real smooth. I think they will notice us now and I will "pretend" to just notice them also. I am smiling to myself and kind of giving myself a pat on the back for being so "smooth".
The downfall??? They only have ONE item in their cart! That darn frozen breakfast!!! I hadn't even noticed there was NOTHING else in their cart!
So they pay and leave without even glancing up at us and I am now stuck in the line where the cashier wants to "chat" with my daughter which, let me tell you, could take awhile.
What is wrong with me? Why did I feel it was necessary to be "smooth"? Why didn't I just go over and talk to him? What did I think would happen? Did I think he would put his head down and barrel me over right there in the frozen foods??? Did I think he would yell at me and tell me to mind my own business or something? Why on earth did I behave this way? UGGGGG....
So I think I will start an online poll of some kind and e-mail older children and adults with DS and ask them to answer random questions such as, who they feel should be our next president and why? what they think of our school system in this country, who has influenced their life most, what are their hobbies etc etc etc. This may be the only way I will get to speak to an older person with DS. With my luck...my computer will "freeze" just like me! LOL!
-Trisha
I posted awhile back asking for advice on how to approach people with DS as I would LOVE to talk with them and get their point of view on things. You all gave me wonderful advice and things to "break the ice" and start a conversation.
So here I am at Stop and Shop this morning with Andrew and my daughter. I am going down the frozen food aisle when I hear a woman arguing with a young man over which frozen breakfast he liked. Yup...you guessed it...he had DS. He looked like he was maybe 25 to 30 years old.
So armed with all that wonderful knowledge you all so nicely gave me, what did I do?? I stood there. I did nothing! I couldn't even remember one little thing you all had told me! I froze!!!
So as I was standing there trying to compose myself and rack this brain of mine, they turned around and left! Well, I wasn't going to let them get away so easily! I RAN down the aisle while telling my poor daughter "hurry up, let's go!". ohhh.....poor Marissa.
I flew down the next aisle and they weren't there! So now I am like a woman on a mission. A mad woman!! I am running from aisle to aisle stopping only to "scan" down them for these people. My poor daughter looked up at me and said "Mom, do you even know what you're looking for?" So I answered, "yes sweetie, I just haven't found it yet."
So off we go, now heading for the front of the store. We turned the corner and lo and behold.....there they are!!!!! They're at the checkout! Even though I haven't gotten everything on my list, I head for the checkout too.
Now I (for some unexplained reason) don't want to seem "suspicious" to them so I very smoothly saunder to the lane beside theirs. I think this is real smooth. I think they will notice us now and I will "pretend" to just notice them also. I am smiling to myself and kind of giving myself a pat on the back for being so "smooth".
The downfall??? They only have ONE item in their cart! That darn frozen breakfast!!! I hadn't even noticed there was NOTHING else in their cart!
So they pay and leave without even glancing up at us and I am now stuck in the line where the cashier wants to "chat" with my daughter which, let me tell you, could take awhile.
What is wrong with me? Why did I feel it was necessary to be "smooth"? Why didn't I just go over and talk to him? What did I think would happen? Did I think he would put his head down and barrel me over right there in the frozen foods??? Did I think he would yell at me and tell me to mind my own business or something? Why on earth did I behave this way? UGGGGG....
So I think I will start an online poll of some kind and e-mail older children and adults with DS and ask them to answer random questions such as, who they feel should be our next president and why? what they think of our school system in this country, who has influenced their life most, what are their hobbies etc etc etc. This may be the only way I will get to speak to an older person with DS. With my luck...my computer will "freeze" just like me! LOL!
-Trisha