value of our children

[Guest guest]

I was told this story when Karrie was around 18 months old. The person who

related this story was Karrie's physical therapist. She sounded truly amazed.

Here's her story in her words (approx):

I went to my 20th high school class reunion last weekend. There was a boy there

who I had lived next door to while growing up. I didn't really know him well,

because he has Down syndrome and our lives didn't cross much.

Anyway, I went over to talk with him, curious to see how he was doing, 20 years

after school. He said he had a job bagging groceries at a local grocery. He

lived in a group home with several other young men. He rode a bus to work and

back home. He went with his group of friends from their home to movies, bingo or

dances almost every night. He was very happy and proud of his accomplishments.

I left the reunion that night, thinking on his quality of life. He had a job he

loved, friends he cared about and went places every night. My life, supposedly a

" quality " life was much different. I had been married and divorced 2 times. I

have 3 sons who I struggle to support, and worry constantly about their grades,

the discipline of them sometimes overwhelming me. I didn't go out much, because

as a single parent, who can afford babysitters more than a couple of times a

month?

Then she said, " Who has the happy life? Who are we to determine quality of

another's life? " .

Now, almost 9 years later, I think about that story often. I worry about

Karrie's future, but heck, I worry about Kate's future. From my perspective,

though, Karrie has taught me what quality of life is truly about.

For example, I was rushed, getting ready for work and getting her ready for

school one morning. She was standing behind me, watching me brush my hair. Our

eyes met in the mirror and she said, " Mom, you beautiful " . She turned and

finished getting ready. Of course, it took me a while for the tears in my eyes

to clear so I could finish up.

Or how when I tell her that I love her and she tells me, " I love you bigger,

Mom " . Isn't this what quality of life is all about, really?

Sue mom to Kate 17 and Karrie 10 with Down syndrome and autism

[Guest guest]

Amen! That wraps it up in a nut shell

Kym...mom to 5 including (9ds)

<<<<Or how when I tell her that I love her and she tells me, " I love you

bigger, Mom " . Isn't this what quality of life is all about, really?

Sue mom to Kate 17 and Karrie 10 with Down syndrome and autism>>>>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sue,

I loved your message, especially the sweet words Karrie tells you. My

daughter Ana (14) hugs and gives me a kiss many times a day, if possible,

and is very happy just about anything, well except when she is fighting

with her older brothers. I also feel like you, many times I stop to

think that Ana really has taught me what quality of life is truly about.

Cheers,

Bonnie - mom to Jean-Pierre (18), Mark (16) and Ana (14-ds)

--- karriemom@... escribió:

> I was told this story when Karrie was around 18 months old. The person

> who related this story was Karrie's physical therapist. She sounded

> truly amazed. Here's her story in her words (approx):

>

> I went to my 20th high school class reunion last weekend. There was a

> boy there who I had lived next door to while growing up. I didn't really

> know him well, because he has Down syndrome and our lives didn't cross

> much.

>

> Anyway, I went over to talk with him, curious to see how he was doing,

> 20 years after school. He said he had a job bagging groceries at a local

> grocery. He lived in a group home with several other young men. He rode

> a bus to work and back home. He went with his group of friends from

> their home to movies, bingo or dances almost every night. He was very

> happy and proud of his accomplishments.

>

> I left the reunion that night, thinking on his quality of life. He had a

> job he loved, friends he cared about and went places every night. My

> life, supposedly a " quality " life was much different. I had been married

> and divorced 2 times. I have 3 sons who I struggle to support, and worry

> constantly about their grades, the discipline of them sometimes

> overwhelming me. I didn't go out much, because as a single parent, who

> can afford babysitters more than a couple of times a month?

>

> Then she said, " Who has the happy life? Who are we to determine quality

> of another's life? " .

>

> Now, almost 9 years later, I think about that story often. I worry

> about Karrie's future, but heck, I worry about Kate's future. From my

> perspective, though, Karrie has taught me what quality of life is truly

> about.

>

> For example, I was rushed, getting ready for work and getting her ready

> for school one morning. She was standing behind me, watching me brush my

> hair. Our eyes met in the mirror and she said, " Mom, you beautiful " . She

> turned and finished getting ready. Of course, it took me a while for the

> tears in my eyes to clear so I could finish up.

>

> Or how when I tell her that I love her and she tells me, " I love you

> bigger, Mom " . Isn't this what quality of life is all about, really?

>

> Sue mom to Kate 17 and Karrie 10 with Down syndrome and autism

>

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[Guest guest]

Sue I love that story! My eyes tear up when my Alyssa comes and hugs me and

says, " You the best mom I ever had. " Now, I do have to smile with that one too!

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