Wanted to Share

[shellk]

Kourtney yesterday was out in the backyard with DH and our other kids playing, while I was inside making dinner. All of a sudden she comes BUSTING through the door yelling " I CREAM MAN !!" "HE COMING!!".. Now mind you I don't hear the Ice cream man and it is so nice out that we have the windows open. Well, she FREAKS so I take her out in the front yard, and wwwwaaayy off inthe distance I hear the Ice Cream truck !! For10 minutes we stand out there waiting for him.

I was so proud of her because when he finally got there she held my hand and crossed the street, and walked right up there and said " Hi, ! I have I cream peeze " The guy looks at me as if asking "what is she saying"..And Kourtney pipes right back in "I have I cream peeze?!" Then it was like a light went off in his head and he said to her "Yes mam just because you are so cute and polite I'll give you one for free" We paid for it but he gave her another one for free. He looks at me and says " Ya know, my brother has DS and he is 42 years old," He went on to tell me how society has made such improvement with how we treat children and adults with disabilities. And that he wished it was that way for his brother back in the day.
I thought to myself once I got back inside, as I watched my girl thuroughly enjoying her screwball. We are lucky.

What a great I CREAM MAN we have in our neighborhood.

Just wanted to share.

Thanks
Michele

[TriciaF]

Michele, Great story! Thanks for sharing. I had something happen Tuesday. My mom now has out- patient therapy for a broken shoulder, so I take her to therapy on the same schedule as Patrick so I only have two trips a week. Anyway, after therapy, my Mom, Patrick and I went to Cracker Barrel to eat lunch. After we had eaten, the waitress came over and said that we wouldn't have a check because it was "taken care of" by someone in the restaurant who said just think of it as an "unexpected blessing". She was not supposed to tell me who it was, but later, I got out of her that it was a lady who works there, but was off that day and eatting right behind us (She was gone by this time).

While I thought it was very nice, it did make me uncomfortable for a moment because I don't want people to feel sorry for us because of Patrick's Ds or my mom (who gets around slowly with her cane). But, the more I thought about how she worded it.....as an "unexpected blessing".....I had the feeling that she somehow knows what an unexpected blessing our children are. She has probably had someone with Ds in her life, too. So......I resolved to feel only happy about it and find someone to pass it on to some day soon.

[momofrussell]

AW such a nice story!!! How neat! And to meet someone in the process that has a brother w/DS is WONDERFUL!!!

So.. what DID you do with the EXTRA ice cream? LOL

A.

[shellk]

Tricia,
That is a wonderful story also..What a kind lady. Your right she herself has probably experienced or been touched by someone like our great kids.

A,
I gave the extra ice cream to my little man Jason. Who wa covered head to toe in about 5 seconds LOL

Nice to know that there are people out there who are just genuinely nice and caring people. In todays world there is so much meaness and rudeness that when you meet someone who is just a kind hearted person, it strikes you funny at first..Then you step back and say WOW, that is great

Michele

[MB]

I say take the good with the bad of Down syndrome!

The good includes people doing nice things for you. When someone buys our meals or comps a hotel room or gives us free admission to something, I always feel it is a show of support.

I think that generally these people are not comfortable with walking up to us and saying that they admire our commitment to our son, so they express it by picking up a check.

I firmly believe the best thing we can do is accept these gifts graciously and allow these people to bask in the good feelings of their own kindness.

I appreciate the fact that my son shows us, through these people, that there is good in the world.

MB

[jeannette]

You both have really great stories!!!! Thanks for sharing.

Jeannette

[Debbie]

These are really great, inspiring stories.

I think the ice cream man was right. Society has not known how to react to us, children and adults who have Down syndrome. Now that education is out there some attitudes are changing.

I used to like ice cream but I don't eat it much now. I prefer frozen yogurt and schubert especially lime! ;D (Sorry if I misspelled that!)