I don't know if Megan is excluded out of embarrassment, but because "it's not fair" for everyone else. Every year Megan's father and his entire family spends 10 fun filled days down at the Jersey shore. Megan is only invited for 5, because Megan is too much work for her father. She can't run around and be trusted not to wander away, or she doesn't enjoy sitting on the beach or that the boardwalk gets to crowded and he wouldn't be able to enjoy himself. So every year he makes me drive the 2 1/2 hours to come get her. I think this year, if he doesn't want her there and can drive her back himself.

When my sister in law got married our son was invited to the wedding but she didn't want to buy him a meal from the hotel that the reception was being held at, too expensive. I was asked to take him to a nearby McDonald's after the ceremony while everyone else was having cocktail time and meet up afterwards. She did this with one other relative on the other side of the family. There would of been a total of 2 children at the reception. When I decided to leave him at home my in-laws were hurt. Her reasoning was that he wouldn't eat the fancy meal. The meal was orange chicken and my kids were never fussy with their meals. He was about 6, normal and well behaved. Like I said, he was invited they just didn't want to provide the meal. My husband gave away the bride and she wouldn't buy his son a meal!

I'm sorry. I know how bad you feel about this. I really do. I cried today. I will get by because of my faith in God.

I have'nt experienced anything like you all have knowinly anyway!
I would find it very hard if invitations did'nt include Olivia, i think i would find myself not going myself and not speaking to those people much afterwards..
Just show's you, you think our lovely children are excepted by all, but sometimes even people who should protect and love them have conditions too!
I am surprized family members have treated them as they have tho :(

I too know the feeling....when Emma was born my husbands parents wouldnt even hold her unless the neighbors were over...they would say Oh we are just no baby people....forgetting that she is the youngest of 6 grandkids who were glued to them from birth....We arent invited to anything...and if we are its usually so last minute that we couldnt go if we tried....Our older boys also have disabilites and babysitting our kiddos is out of the question.....its just too much for them...Or they are still getting used to it....or they are having a hard time with all of this.....

When did DS become the kootie disease....Emma doesnt required anything different from any other 2 year old...except her special sippy cup....sure shes short but that just means shes more portable.....

So we pretty much just leave it alone and hope they dont call.....
I feel for my kiddos though...that the people who are supposed to love them unconditionally cant even look at them....Its a sad sad world....and the weirdest thing is that the lady at the gas station would take all three of them in a heart beat...

So many of your stories just broke my heart. I've had to deal with members of one side of the family wanting me to terminate this pregnancy. They say things like "you don't know what you are getting in to." Granted, I never had a DS baby before but I raised my first daughter quite nicely and I'm sure God will equip me with what I need or point me in the direction so that I will be a great mom to this little girl, too. I assumed that once everyone saw this beautiful little blessing, that they would all come to their senses and fall in love with her too. It's sad to know that that doesn't always happen.

i am saddened that there is people still in society that thinks that our kids aren't valued in society , it is so sad that it is a family member that is putting that barrier up in front of your daughter to be excluded from the family event , that is so hurtful to you and your family , i just didnt think that type of behaviour is still happening , that happened along time ago and shouldn't be going on , its time a few people got their wrists slapped , do they not realise that they to could become disabled some day through a accident , heart-attack , stroke and so on . and how would they feel been left out of a family event because they didnt look right .my thoughts are with , that is so difficult on you .