sounds like reality hit u in the head WOW! reality hit me in the head about a month ago.someone in the nursury made a comment about my son and was repeated 2 me from a different nursury worker. the comment was "he,s so cute too bad he will never amount to anything what a waste." when this was repeated to me i was hysterical crying.he,s only 10 momths old and it suddenly hit me WOW my son is gonna be teased and made fun of and not be able to do all the things other kids are doing his age. he will never be "typical or Normal".the hurt went away gave me alot to think about like what's it gonna b like when he's older.after reading your letter im thankful we have this cite cause it might b me 9 years from watching ants and not able to do like the others.i guess at different points in his life we will all go thru an almost mourning process.thank u 4 sharing.

My son is now 14 yrs old. I have always tried to ignore comments that other people make that are insensitive. Our children are not "throw away kids". They WILL amount to something! My son is very smart and learning more every day. I see no reason for him to not have a job later on, and have friends, and a REAL life! It may be more simple than some other's lives, but it will still have value. Try not to let yourselves be depressed by other people's ignorance. Just love your kids, teach them all they can learn, and appreciate all that they can give you.

when my son was first born and the specialists were examining him, they said
don't expect much from him....?
well they were WRONG, he has ALOT of medals from special olympics and can outrun me! he is smart and sees the true value in this life and that is love and the simple joys of life!!
don't look at what she CAN'T do rather than what she can and that is to show you the true meaning of life also..that in itself is a lesson that not alot of people can see or will even know. Us moms are truly blessed to have kids with DS, they show us unconditional love and I'd rather have that than anything else.

Oh my goodness how sad. I just have to write. It does get better. Hannah will be 17 in Feb and I can't even begin to tell you all the things she has accomplished. She is mainstreamed in some of her highschool classes,she's on the yearbook staff and has had articles in the school newspaper, she got confirmed last year at church, she is also mainstreamed in the high school kid's choir at church. She has won numerous medals for S.O. She comes home from school and let's herself inside, let's the dog out, locks the door, get's her snack, and starts any homework. Of course there are things that she will never do. Right now she wants to drive. So she is going to study the lerner's permit manual, (why not?) and try and take the test. Im sure she won't pass but who am I to say no she can't. Things do get better, you just learn different ways of coping is all. It's all good, believe me. Sometimes I will say something that I think she will never get, but she does and surprises the heck out of me all the time. Just sit back and enjoy the ride, because what a ride it is. Kris

When my wee Jessie was born we too were hit with all the negative but man has she proved everyone wrong.

There are days where it will be really hard, physically, emotionally and spiritually to cope. But behind every cloud is the sunshine waiting to come out. All you need to do is look in your daughters eyes and see the love that is reflected back and do one of the simple little things that give them so much joy.

Jessie is 10 now, and was never expected to live to see the age of 1.

I think we are given these children so they can teach us about love and humility, about being able to see joy in the simple things in life.

Hang in there, my thoughts are with you.

hi we dont take any notice of what other nasty people say we all love our babies kids all the same never mind what others say the only thing that matters is that there ours and we love them dearly xxxxxxx

You can never be sure of what a DS child can do, our Kat will be 7yrs old and she's doing thing they said she'd never do, There's a young man who works at the restraunt close to our house and he loves his job and enjoys his life, your daughter may not have a regular life but she can have the life for her.

Hi! I had to add a comment here .
I justwanted you to know that you are NOTa bad peson forthnking this way...in fact it is perfectly normal. Everyone goes through stages in their lives that will put you in this frame of mind. There are specific times...like at birth, next at 2 yeats old...again when the child starts school...the preteen years...etc etc. I have gone through every one ofthese stages. The difference I choose to do though..is allow myself to feel it..and then move on. I realized that my feelings are too obvious to others and I did not want others to think shewas less ofa person just becasue of my feelings at the time. I NEVER stopped loving her...I never will!! My daughter is now 26. She is a valuable person in this community and is loved and loves people and socializing. I canot go anywhere where she does not meet up with someone she knows and stops to chat with!! Going through all the different phases of life for any of us...is difficult..but having a disability is even harder. I stopped feeling sorry for her when others made comments, SHE is the one who wounts, not me...and SHE does not care one way or another what others thnk of her. I have raised her to be proud of who she is and eveything about herself. She does not know the meaning of the words "can't do it" becasue that is how I raised her..andthat is no diffeent from the way I raised my youngest daughter as well. YEs..ther are differences....and yes..there are going t obe hard times...but the happiness and pride far surpass any of the other thoughts that ramble through my head at diffent times in her life. I am not going to let you wallow in your sorrow for long...You can see foryourself. that just becasue she has DS does not make her loved any less by you...and isn;t that what is most improtant in life..to be loved and to love. Both things a child with DS is far more capable off that anyone else I know.
Your child WILL walk, talk and be a brat..jutlike everyone else..the timelinesin which this child does it may be different...but the job does get done eventually. I like to think of it as ..my daughter took the invaluable time to stop and smell the rosed before she moved on in her life.
Ok..I am done with my rant. Just know that ..this too shall pass and it is ok to be there when you are,,,you are normal and I know you still ove your child, no matter what.
PLease take gppd care,
Donna xox