sounds very normal for a child coming into their terrible 2's. LOL
I told my sons 1st first grade teacher, never let him get away with
something the 1st time that you wouldn't normally let him do, otherwise he
will continue to do it. she didn't listen, she let him walk all over her and
act up without telling him anything, so when it was time to set things right
and have him behave, he wouldn't. LOL
the next week he was in a new class.
It might be cute what they start out doing, but in the end it might get
annoying and then they think it's ok, because we let them do it for the
short time they did without saying anything.
Georgia
ps, I say
terrible 2's
horrible 3's and
unforgettable 4's,
LOL, by the time they reach 5 then they are ok.
===============

> i have a 16 month old girl emma with down syndrome.  Lately she has
> been very behavioral, like swatting my hand at mealtime, banging her
> head, giving me dirty looks, and so on.  I was just wondering if it
> is her age group or if maybe it had something to do with d.s.  She
> is my first child so i am learning as i go maybe you all could help
>
> thanks becky and emma

i have a 16 month old girl emma with down syndrome.  Lately she has
been very behavioral, like swatting my hand at mealtime, banging her
head, giving me dirty looks, and so on.  I was just wondering if it
is her age group or if maybe it had something to do with d.s.  She
is my first child so i am learning as i go maybe you all could help

thanks becky and emma

Hi, Angie, I have only posted a couple of times myself
and my son, Collin is almost 8 years old.  He has to
be urged to pick up toys and share but it's no
different than my other childern, Ben, 23, Jennifer 21
and Kenneth 18.  They all had to learn and all
rebelled at first.  I just say, you may do whatever it
is he wants to do, if you pick up your toys.  Of
course he wants to argue.  He argues about everything
and everytime he asks, "Why?"  I think it's a stalling
tactic.  If you have any ideas how to work with him
when he decides to argue all of the time, please let
me know.  The things I did with my older non ds kids
doesn't always work with Collin.  But they all tried
to get out of work just the same.
Mary

--- Angie Tate <atate526@...> wrote:
> That is too funny!!!!
> There is a group UpsNDowns......that have children
> of all ages.
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: svanhhm1
>   To: down_syndrome@yahoogroups.com
>   Sent: Monday, June 28, 2004 9:35 PM
>   Subject: [down_syndrome] 2 Things...
>
>
>   First, I've posted on this site a bit before, but
> since most of you
>   have younger children, I really don't get to share
> much.  I'm
>   wondering is there a place (message board like
> this) where parents
>   of slightly older children with down syndrome (my
> son is almost 12)
>   have to speak on issues that are for slightly
> older kids?
>
>   Also, just in general, I seem to have
> unintentionally gotton my son
>   is to a bad habit.  I was a homemaker for 10
> years, and did all the
>   house cleaning, cooking, fixing meals etc. I have
> now returned to
>   work, and have found that my son thinks all that
> stuff was "MY JOB".
>
>   For example, I might say to him, "Go fix yourself
> a sandwich for
>   lunch if you're hungry", to which he replies, "No
> mom, that's your
>   job". I could just about die!  I never realized I
> was sending him
>   this message.  And because he is so stubborn he
> really won't do it.
>   I have given him chores all along, and he does
> them,  it's just the
>   stuff I had always done, he's really not too happy
> to hear he has to
>   do it now.  Any suggestions on how I can resend
> the message that
>   everything needs to be done by everybody?
>
>   Thanks in Advance
>
>
>         Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
>               ADVERTISEMENT
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>   Yahoo! Groups Links
>
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>     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/down_syndrome/
>
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>
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> Yahoo! Terms of Service.
>
>




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I'm a research assistant working on a project looking at ways to
increase activity levels (both physical and social)in pre-teens and
teens with Down Syndrome.  The children will receive services
designed to increase activity levels and opportunities to socialize.

We are developing a list of activities that children might feel more
comfortable with as a result of the services.  I was wondering if any
of the parents of children in this age group might share what
activites their child enjoys (initiating phone conversations w/
friends, participating in sports, riding bikes, etc.).  We are hoping
to make up an extensive list so we are sure to not miss any new
additions to the children's activities.

Thanks for your help!

i was just wondering what celiac disease is.  what are some symptoms
just curious

  becky &
16 month old d.s emma


--- In down_syndrome@yahoogroups.com, Threecofish@w... wrote:
> Hello,
>
>      Just found out friday that our daughter's biopsy of her
stomach came
> back positive for Celiac disease.  Anyone have words of wisdom?
Will have an
> Upper GI and Upper Endoscopy done within the next week.
>
> Rebekah in Colorado

----- Original Message -----

From: Elyssa G

To: down_syndrome@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2004 10:18 AM

Subject: [down_syndrome] Great news

Hi everyone,

 

I have great news about Codey...on July 1st..which was Canada day here in Canada..the big celebrations day...as it is on July 4th for those of you in the us...well anyways Codey sat for the first time all on his own...i could barely believe my eyes....i was crying and laughing and just so happy.....he turned on 2 days later..on July 3rd....i was told by his physio that he probably would not sit untill he was 2..since they explained they felt he was very very behind...well look at this..he sat up 2 days before his first birthday..and you should see his now...he sits and sits and plays with toys in front of him,....its absoultly amazing..i'm so happy...

 

take care all

Elyssa

Mommy to Lucas(5) Codey(1) ds

---

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Being a moderator of list myself I try very hard to BAN the A**HOLES
everytime they pull this garbage. It is bad and unacceptable on any list
and worse IMO on a list like this. I hope the moderator drop kicks this
lower than human excrement party.
Bill



At 07:26 PM 6/26/2004 +0000, you wrote:
>Get a Real College Diploma and never attend a  Single class.
>These are 100% real College Diplomas.
>Get a degree from whatever School you want.
>Call this number and receive your Diploma today.
>Pick up a phone Call 801-904-7899 and Graduate.
>Be over qualified for any Job. Get your degree today.
>No studying No Books No Teachers.
>Just a College Diploma of your choice.
>Call this number 801-904-7899 to acquire a Diploma.
>Do not miss out call this number today.
>801-904-7899 and get your degree.
>If you do not wish to recieve any emails, unsubscribe.
>by sending a mail here down_syndrome-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
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>
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>
>
>
>

----- Original Message -----

From: abby ricardi

To: down_syndrome@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Saturday, July 03, 2004 5:37 PM

Subject: Re: [down_syndrome] Re: Keeping my mouth shut

Hi, I hate to tell you this, but the person who came up with the term Mongoloid was Doctor Down himself.  Actually what he called it was "Mongolian idiot"  He theorized that children with these facial features (they didn't know about chromosomes back then) were the result of a human that didn't "finish" evolution.  He thought the races of man were different stages of evolution with white folks being  the most advanced. (And people from Mongolia being clearly less intellegent) He also described children with other forms of intellectual impairments and had different classifications for them, like "Ethiopian idiot" 

 

It's so sad that the lable our kids have now is in tribute to this doctor.

 

Can we start a campain to re-name it?

 

Hugs, Abby

Amy S <amys1966@... 

THE WORDS TAHT DO GET ME RILED (SP?) ARE MONGOLOID AND RETARDED.  AS A CHILD,.....I THOUGHT THE WORD MONGOLOID WAS SOME KIND OF ONE-EYED MONSTER CARTOON CHARACTER.....REALLY.  WHOEVER DECIDED THIS WORD WOULD DESCRIBE THESE BEAUTIFULL CHILDREN AND PEOPLE MUST HAVE BEEN A VERY MEAN HEARTED PERSON.

 

---

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Abby, mom to:
Terry (7/11/92) congenital CMV disease, totally deaf, visual impairments, neuromuscular findings, severe mental retardation, primary immune deficiency disease, Autistic spectrum, ADD, etc. who is a wonderful big brother to:
James (4/9/01) Down Syndrome, Tetrology of Fallot (two open-heart surgeries -needs more), tracheal stenosis, Feeding disorder and the best smile this side of the globe.

---

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THE WORDS TAHT DO GET ME RILED (SP?) ARE MONGOLOID AND RETARDED.  AS A CHILD,.....I THOUGHT THE WORD MONGOLOID WAS SOME KIND OF ONE-EYED MONSTER CARTOON CHARACTER.....REALLY.  WHOEVER DECIDED THIS WORD WOULD DESCRIBE THESE BEAUTIFULL CHILDREN AND PEOPLE MUST HAVE BEEN A VERY MEAN HEARTED PERSON.

 

---

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As the mother of a kid who's NEVER eaten a Cheerio in
his life, I say "go for it". The sooner they can learn
to eat the finger foods themselves, the better.  Now
he's 8 years old and it's hard to get him to try
anything new!
Lisa
--- donna holder <momma88899303@...> wrote:
> Hello. thank you. i wonder if we got benji cookies
> if he would be interested in feedng himself.? what
> about cheerios and other kinds of finger stuff like
> that? thanks for all the advice.i know ive got other
> children but benji having down syndrome kinda makes
> me feel like i dont know anything at all.im
> terrified im gonna do something wrong. :-) well
> thanks again take care donna
>
>
> ---------------------------------
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donna

----- Original Message -----

From: rebecca

To: down_syndrome@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2004 7:10 PM

Subject: [down_syndrome] Re: Keeping my mouth shut

this statement is very true!!!--- In down_syndrome@yahoogroups.com,
Jefferson Smith <amanmyson@y...> wrote:
> Hello Diane,
> 
>    I understand your frustration at the lady in your story, but I
wouldn't get offended.  Although the way she labeled your daughter
is no longer the conventional way, it was by no means intended in a
derogatory manner.  After all, it sounds like she was trying to tell
you an encouraging story.
> 
>    I no longer refer to people with Down Syndrome as 'Down's
People.'  I understand that, to some, the term makes the condition
take priority over the child.  But I am never really offended by the
reference.  How many of us write as our signature, '... mother to
John (DS), Mary (non-DS), etc..?'  Isn't that the same thing?  Do we
love them any less, or consider them any less than our other
children?  Of course not.  Down Syndrome is not the only factor in
our children's lives, but it is a major factor in shaping their
souls, and we are all part of this Yahoo! Group for that very reason.
> 
>    If someone is describing me to another person who has never met
me, what is the first thing they say?  "He's a white male."  Are
they pigeonholing me into a 'white person' box by not saying "He's a
person of the male gender with white skin"?  Does the label imply
that I love sports, that I only listen to country music, or that I
can't dance?  A problem arises only if the person being given the
description makes such assumptions.  I say all of this to illustrate
that we are assuming that a simple variation of language is what
imposes limits on our children in other people's eyes.  My own
mother says 'Down's child' a lot, but she sees no end to my Marie's
potential in life, and for that reason I never see a reason to
correct her.  It's only when someone says "They are so good-natured"
(on a day when Marie has just thrown a huge tantrum), or "They all
love music," or something like that, that I gently let them know
that these are stereotypes, just like blanket statements about people
>  of other races.
> 
>    I respect your aversion to the term 'Down's child,' and if you
take offense to the term, I encourage you to speak up about it.  But
the use of the term does not imply some moral failing in the user. 
It's just that no one has ever 'educated' them before.
> 
> Thank you and all the best to everyone,
> Jefferson Smith
> 
> PS: I apologize for my long-windedness.  Please don't take the
above as a lecture.  I merely offer it as a different point of view.
>
>
>            
> ---------------------------------
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Mail - 50x more storage than other providers!

this statement is very true!!!--- In down_syndrome@yahoogroups.com,
Jefferson Smith <amanmyson@y...> wrote:
> Hello Diane,
>
>    I understand your frustration at the lady in your story, but I
wouldn't get offended.  Although the way she labeled your daughter
is no longer the conventional way, it was by no means intended in a
derogatory manner.  After all, it sounds like she was trying to tell
you an encouraging story.
>
>    I no longer refer to people with Down Syndrome as 'Down's
People.'  I understand that, to some, the term makes the condition
take priority over the child.  But I am never really offended by the
reference.  How many of us write as our signature, '... mother to
John (DS), Mary (non-DS), etc..?'  Isn't that the same thing?  Do we
love them any less, or consider them any less than our other
children?  Of course not.  Down Syndrome is not the only factor in
our children's lives, but it is a major factor in shaping their
souls, and we are all part of this Yahoo! Group for that very reason.
>
>    If someone is describing me to another person who has never met
me, what is the first thing they say?  "He's a white male."  Are
they pigeonholing me into a 'white person' box by not saying "He's a
person of the male gender with white skin"?  Does the label imply
that I love sports, that I only listen to country music, or that I
can't dance?  A problem arises only if the person being given the
description makes such assumptions.  I say all of this to illustrate
that we are assuming that a simple variation of language is what
imposes limits on our children in other people's eyes.  My own
mother says 'Down's child' a lot, but she sees no end to my Marie's
potential in life, and for that reason I never see a reason to
correct her.  It's only when someone says "They are so good-natured"
(on a day when Marie has just thrown a huge tantrum), or "They all
love music," or something like that, that I gently let them know
that these are stereotypes, just like blanket statements about people
>  of other races.
>
>    I respect your aversion to the term 'Down's child,' and if you
take offense to the term, I encourage you to speak up about it.  But
the use of the term does not imply some moral failing in the user.
It's just that no one has ever 'educated' them before.
>
> Thank you and all the best to everyone,
> Jefferson Smith
>
> PS: I apologize for my long-windedness.  Please don't take the
above as a lecture.  I merely offer it as a different point of view.
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Mail - 50x more storage than other providers!

----- Original Message -----

From: Jefferson Smith

To: down_syndrome@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2004 10:48 AM

Subject: Re: [down_syndrome] Re: Keeping my mouth shut

Hello Diane,

 

   I understand your frustration at the lady in your story, but I wouldn't get offended.  Although the way she labeled your daughter is no longer the conventional way, it was by no means intended in a derogatory manner.  After all, it sounds like she was trying to tell you an encouraging story.

 

   I no longer refer to people with Down Syndrome as 'Down's People.'  I understand that, to some, the term makes the condition take priority over the child.  But I am never really offended by the reference.  How many of us write as our signature, '... mother to John (DS), Mary (non-DS), etc..?'  Isn't that the same thing?  Do we love them any less, or consider them any less than our other children?  Of course not.  Down Syndrome is not the only factor in our children's lives, but it is a major factor in shaping their souls, and we are all part of this Yahoo! Group for that very reason.

 

   If someone is describing me to another person who has never met me, what is the first thing they say?  "He's a white male."  Are they pigeonholing me into a 'white person' box by not saying "He's a person of the male gender with white skin"?  Does the label imply that I love sports, that I only listen to country music, or that I can't dance?  A problem arises only if the person being given the description makes such assumptions.  I say all of this to illustrate that we are assuming that a simple variation of language is what imposes limits on our children in other people's eyes.  My own mother says 'Down's child' a lot, but she sees no end to my Marie's potential in life, and for that reason I never see a reason to correct her.  It's only when someone says "They are so good-natured" (on a day when Marie has just thrown a huge tantrum), or "They all love music," or something like that, that I gently let them know that these are stereotypes, just like blanket statements about people of other races.

 

   I respect your aversion to the term 'Down's child,' and if you take offense to the term, I encourage you to speak up about it.  But the use of the term does not imply some moral failing in the user.  It's just that no one has ever 'educated' them before.

 

Thank you and all the best to everyone,

Jefferson Smith

 

PS: I apologize for my long-windedness.  Please don't take the above as a lecture.  I merely offer it as a different point of view.

---

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Hello - I do not respond very often and I rarely have time to read all of the posts - but for whatever reason I chose to read this email today I was glad that I did.  Jefferson - you have a valid point - and I commend you and your opinions.  It definitely makes me think about things differently.  You know many people have not walked a mile in our shoes do they see the road that many of us walk daily with our precious children.  You are absolutely right - I can remember thinking so many bad thoughts of people when my little Kennedie was born and taking so many comments personally.  I finally had to come to the conclusion that many people didn't know any better and it was up to me to educate them and be my child's best advocate.  I have learned so much in the 19 months that my little one has been in this world and in turn I have taught so much about what I have learned to the people around me.  I have always said that this little girl has something to teach us all!

 

Thanks for listening

Mandy- Cameron (4) and Kennedie (19mths - DS)

---

From: Jefferson Smith [mailto:amanmyson@...]
Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2004 12:49 PM
To: down_syndrome@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [down_syndrome] Re: Keeping my mouth shut

Hello Diane,

 

   I understand your frustration at the lady in your story, but I wouldn't get offended.  Although the way she labeled your daughter is no longer the conventional way, it was by no means intended in a derogatory manner.  After all, it sounds like she was trying to tell you an encouraging story.

 

   I no longer refer to people with Down Syndrome as 'Down's People.'  I understand that, to some, the term makes the condition take priority over the child.  But I am never really offended by the reference.  How many of us write as our signature, '... mother to John (DS), Mary (non-DS), etc..?'  Isn't that the same thing?  Do we love them any less, or consider them any less than our other children?  Of course not.  Down Syndrome is not the only factor in our children's lives, but it is a major factor in shaping their souls, and we are all part of this Yahoo! Group for that very reason.

 

   If someone is describing me to another person who has never met me, what is the first thing they say?  "He's a white male."  Are they pigeonholing me into a 'white person' box by not saying "He's a person of the male gender with white skin"?  Does the label imply that I love sports, that I only listen to country music, or that I can't dance?  A problem arises only if the person being given the description makes such assumptions.  I say all of this to illustrate that we are assuming that a simple variation of language is what imposes limits on our children in other people's eyes.  My own mother says 'Down's child' a lot, but she sees no end to my Marie's potential in life, and for that reason I never see a reason to correct her.  It's only when someone says "They are so good-natured" (on a day when Marie has just thrown a huge tantrum), or "They all love music," or something like that, that I gently let them know that these are stereotypes, just like blanket statements about people of other races.

 

   I respect your aversion to the term 'Down's child,' and if you take offense to the term, I encourage you to speak up about it.  But the use of the term does not imply some moral failing in the user.  It's just that no one has ever 'educated' them before.

 

Thank you and all the best to everyone,

Jefferson Smith

 

PS: I apologize for my long-windedness.  Please don't take the above as a lecture.  I merely offer it as a different point of view.

---

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Reading these posts reminds me of my own experiences.

When my son Michael was born, complete strangers would stop me in the
street and say, "Wow! that is one beautiful baby". I heard it all the
time,(gosh, I hope I don't sound like I'm bragging! LOL)

Anyway, I would always say, "Thank You, you're very kind", but in the
back of my mind I would always think...Yea, if you knew he had Down's
Syndrome what would you think then.

As time went on and Michael got a bit older some of his features were
a bit more noticeable. People would still come up and say, "Your son
is so cute, he's Down's isn't he?" "I would say, "Yes, he has Down's
Syndrome". Do you know I never, and still to this day, never take
offense to it. First, mainly because I never felt that the people I
have met are trying to be rude, they just aren't as educated on the
correct terms as we as parents are. And secondly, I was/am always
thrilled that any person on the street would be familiar with Down
Syndrome. That persons with Down Syndrome are now so prevelent in our
society that Joe Schmoe on the street knows that Michael has Down
Syndrome. That it's not hidden away as some awful taboo as it was in
years past.

Just me 2 cents :-)

---

From: Jefferson Smith [mailto:amanmyson@...]
Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2004 12:49 PM
To: down_syndrome@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [down_syndrome] Re: Keeping my mouth shut

Hello Diane,

 

   I understand your frustration at the lady in your story, but I wouldn't get offended.  Although the way she labeled your daughter is no longer the conventional way, it was by no means intended in a derogatory manner.  After all, it sounds like she was trying to tell you an encouraging story.

 

   I no longer refer to people with Down Syndrome as 'Down's People.'  I understand that, to some, the term makes the condition take priority over the child.  But I am never really offended by the reference.  How many of us write as our signature, '... mother to John (DS), Mary (non-DS), etc..?'  Isn't that the same thing?  Do we love them any less, or consider them any less than our other children?  Of course not.  Down Syndrome is not the only factor in our children's lives, but it is a major factor in shaping their souls, and we are all part of this Yahoo! Group for that very reason.

 

   If someone is describing me to another person who has never met me, what is the first thing they say?  "He's a white male."  Are they pigeonholing me into a 'white person' box by not saying "He's a person of the male gender with white skin"?  Does the label imply that I love sports, that I only listen to country music, or that I can't dance?  A problem arises only if the person being given the description makes such assumptions.  I say all of this to illustrate that we are assuming that a simple variation of language is what imposes limits on our children in other people's eyes.  My own mother says 'Down's child' a lot, but she sees no end to my Marie's potential in life, and for that reason I never see a reason to correct her.  It's only when someone says "They are so good-natured" (on a day when Marie has just thrown a huge tantrum), or "They all love music," or something like that, that I gently let them know that these are stereotypes, just like blanket statements about people of other races.

 

   I respect your aversion to the term 'Down's child,' and if you take offense to the term, I encourage you to speak up about it.  But the use of the term does not imply some moral failing in the user.  It's just that no one has ever 'educated' them before.

 

Thank you and all the best to everyone,

Jefferson Smith

 

PS: I apologize for my long-windedness.  Please don't take the above as a lecture.  I merely offer it as a different point of view.

---

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Yahoo! Mail - 50x more storage than other providers!

----- Original Message -----

From: Gustavo R. y Andrea W.

To: down_syndrome@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2004 3:54 AM

Subject: Re: [down_syndrome] Re: Keeping my mouth shut

Hi, here I have heard so much the question: Is she downs? Or the words "XXX is down" or "Iīve met a downs child at..." , that is constantly, instead of saying a girl with DS, people say a Downs, but that is not in an offensive way, Itīs just the way people talk, and I donīt mind really, because even family members who deeply love Sofía talk that way. So the thing , for me, hangs on the intentions. I do hate the term "mongoloid", that sounds offensive to me, but fortunately nobody has , so far, used that word referring to my lovely daughter, well at least in front of me, in which case I would strongly correct them. On the other hand, I do hear the term mongoloid as "stupid" , you know, like "donīt be such a mongo"or "he is such a mongol" and even since I know that is the word they use for "stupid" or fool, I donīt like it being used that way either, even though they donīt talk about my girl that way or they donīt imagine that word can hurt me somehow.  I guess my dislike of that word comes from the fact that Sir Langdon Down, the one that realized that there  were a lot of people, a group of people with certain characteristics or features that for him resembled the people from Mongolia, called  them "mongoloids".

In that time, they still havenīt found the extra chromosome.

 He didnīt mean it offensive, but then people started to use the word mongoloids for idiot, stupid,...yet as an offense, obviously considering the mongoloids  as stupid. So when I hear the term mongoloid, I know they mean idiot, and I remember that time ago people with DS were called mongoloids.  And if thereīs something I know for sure is that my dear precious daughter is not stupid at all.

Andrea

----- Original Message -----

From: Angie Tate

To: down_syndrome@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2004 12:51 PM

Subject: Re: [down_syndrome] Re: Keeping my mouth shut

No I guess not been there myself.  I have realized at times of ppl that have had personal experience and said well I guess thats just how they say it.  I have corrected before even my mom....

I agree its not who our kids are it just happens to be what they are dx with....if that makes sense.  I remember jumping at my mom when Syd was smaller when she said you know "they" have a tendancy for resp problems........it just about sent me over the edge.  I said NOT ALL OF THEM.  I called her back to apologize and asked if I was ugly when I said it...and she said no.

Its all in how someone speaks....not knowing any better.

Let me tell you a story which I may have shared here before......this will certainly have to make you feel better.

 

I was at this tanning place waiting to tan and we were all sitting around talking.  They didnt know until that day that Sydnie had Ds (she wasnt with me of course), so while my conversation was turned to one person.  I heard one of the owners over near by ask the other owner....did  you know that her daughter was a mongloid?  I about peed in my pants.  I was so shocked I didnt even acknowledge what she said. ....after all I was talking to someone else...had it been to me I would have certainly corrected her.  But I sort of heard it behind me and suddenly I couldnt breathe.  Well my bed was ready so I layed there the whole time kicking myself because I didnt say anything.  The sad part was she wasnt being mean....evidently that was all she knew Ds to be.  She always talked about her beautiful she was and if I ever needed to come and tan to bring her own they would play with her.  I promised myself that if it were ever mentioned that I would "educate" her.  I never heard the other owner respond...I almost felt like she could have crawled under the table at that moment.  I always felt bad for not talking to her but was too shocked at the time.  I havent tanned there in quite a while...heck I havent tanned in quite a while......considering I started trying for #2 in the middle of 2002....but I am so ready to tan now !lol

----- Original Message -----

From: Diane Freeman

To: down_syndrome@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2004 8:33 PM

Subject: [down_syndrome] Re: Keeping my mouth shut

Ok, a little story for everyone....

 

our big family vacation this year, led us to Wash., DC and then Williamsburg, VA.  While in DC we were visiting all of the monuments and such, we happen to be leaving the Korean War Memorial with a school group.  Our little one, Abby, was waddling along, I stress waddle, since she is now 35 lbs. and a Mom or teacher from the school group was commenting how cute she was to walk along with the big kids.  She turns to me and says, "she is downs, right?  I have a younger brother who is downs and the class at school is very familiar with him.."  blah blah she went on....  All I heard was "IS DOWNS"..and I had to hold myself back and keep my mouth shut with all of my might. 

 

 That is not who my daughter is and what she is about...but, I thought, Ok, this woman has a personal experience and she and her family have different views than I do and I will not say anything, but then I wonder if I missed an opportunity to help someone see what other people think.  

Any other options??  I just keep thinking about this moment time and time again, thinking I should have done something different. 

 

 

 

Take Care,

-Diane

I think of it as an opportunity to educate others
about Down Syndrome.  After all, how many of us really
knew that much about Down Syndrome before we had our
kids?
--- "Gustavo R. y Andrea W." <rewar@...>
wrote:
> Hi, here I have heard so much the question: Is she
> downs? Or the words "XXX is down" or "Iīve met a
> downs child at..." , that is constantly, instead of
> saying a girl with DS, people say a Downs, but that
> is not in an offensive way, Itīs just the way people
> talk, and I donīt mind really,



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From: Angie Tate

To: down_syndrome@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2004 12:51 PM

Subject: Re: [down_syndrome] Re: Keeping my mouth shut

No I guess not been there myself.  I have realized at times of ppl that have had personal experience and said well I guess thats just how they say it.  I have corrected before even my mom....

I agree its not who our kids are it just happens to be what they are dx with....if that makes sense.  I remember jumping at my mom when Syd was smaller when she said you know "they" have a tendancy for resp problems........it just about sent me over the edge.  I said NOT ALL OF THEM.  I called her back to apologize and asked if I was ugly when I said it...and she said no.

Its all in how someone speaks....not knowing any better.

Let me tell you a story which I may have shared here before......this will certainly have to make you feel better.

 

I was at this tanning place waiting to tan and we were all sitting around talking.  They didnt know until that day that Sydnie had Ds (she wasnt with me of course), so while my conversation was turned to one person.  I heard one of the owners over near by ask the other owner....did  you know that her daughter was a mongloid?  I about peed in my pants.  I was so shocked I didnt even acknowledge what she said. ....after all I was talking to someone else...had it been to me I would have certainly corrected her.  But I sort of heard it behind me and suddenly I couldnt breathe.  Well my bed was ready so I layed there the whole time kicking myself because I didnt say anything.  The sad part was she wasnt being mean....evidently that was all she knew Ds to be.  She always talked about her beautiful she was and if I ever needed to come and tan to bring her own they would play with her.  I promised myself that if it were ever mentioned that I would "educate" her.  I never heard the other owner respond...I almost felt like she could have crawled under the table at that moment.  I always felt bad for not talking to her but was too shocked at the time.  I havent tanned there in quite a while...heck I havent tanned in quite a while......considering I started trying for #2 in the middle of 2002....but I am so ready to tan now !lol

----- Original Message -----

From: Diane Freeman

To: down_syndrome@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2004 8:33 PM

Subject: [down_syndrome] Re: Keeping my mouth shut

Ok, a little story for everyone....

 

our big family vacation this year, led us to Wash., DC and then Williamsburg, VA.  While in DC we were visiting all of the monuments and such, we happen to be leaving the Korean War Memorial with a school group.  Our little one, Abby, was waddling along, I stress waddle, since she is now 35 lbs. and a Mom or teacher from the school group was commenting how cute she was to walk along with the big kids.  She turns to me and says, "she is downs, right?  I have a younger brother who is downs and the class at school is very familiar with him.."  blah blah she went on....  All I heard was "IS DOWNS"..and I had to hold myself back and keep my mouth shut with all of my might. 

 

 That is not who my daughter is and what she is about...but, I thought, Ok, this woman has a personal experience and she and her family have different views than I do and I will not say anything, but then I wonder if I missed an opportunity to help someone see what other people think.  

Any other options??  I just keep thinking about this moment time and time again, thinking I should have done something different. 

 

 

 

Take Care,

-Diane