RE: Siblings and Down syndrome

[Guest guest]

I feel much like does. We haven't even tried to explain DS to Areille,

it would be pointless. Her sister is her sister, at 26 months labels

wouldn't mean anything to her. If we had other older children I would

discuss it with them, but I think we will wait until Arielle is a bit older

and has a better understanding of differences in people. She is still at

the age where a baby is a baby, not a white, black or disabled baby. As far

as I can tell Arielle doesn't see anything different about Annemieke.

Health wise Annemieke has been very lucky. Perhaps if she had health issues

and couldn't do all the things Arielle does, then that might need to be

explained to Arielle. I have, however, been stocking up on some kids books

about siblings of a special needs child.( I haven't found any I'm very

excited about yet.) I'm also trying to find some books to send to cousins

for Christmas. We don't live near family, but the couple of times a year

they do see her, some understanding of what DS is and ISN'T would be

helpful.

Just my rambling thoughts,

mom to twins Arielle and Annemieke (ds) 26 months

Siblings and Down syndrome

Hi Everyone,

I would like to start a little discussion about the siblings of our children

with Down syndrome. I have two little stories to tell.

One day Sara (my non-Ds twin) and I were talking about Maggie and Down

syndrome. I asked Sara, who is 2, what Maggie has. Sara said, in a mangled

way, Down syndrome. When I asked Sara what having Down syndrome meant she

said, Maggie has broken eyes. Isn't that strange? Broken eyes.

Then just last night my five year old had a friend over for dinner. The

friend asked Quinn if Maggie was a baby. Without even looking up from his

plate, Quinn said, Maggie has Down syndrome...that just means she is a

little different than us. The two little boys just kept on eating. No big

deal.

I have read a couple of books about siblings of kids with

disabilities...nothing specific to Down syndrome. I think the most

important thing I have taken from these reading it to try to keep the

" special " sibling treated as much like the other as possible. Also, never

make one be responsible for the other.

I haven't noticed any resentment or anything yet. I would say the closest

is for the months that Sara spent telling us that she had Down

syndrome...she just can't stand for Maggie to have something she doesn't!

We talk about Down syndrome...they are words that are no big surprise to

anyone in this family...I know people who don't even tell the other kids

that what their brother or sister has is Down syndrome. This seems strange

to me.

I am just wondering what you all have to say about it.

Quii-5, Sara and Maggie-2, Teddy-11 months

http://DSyndrome.com/Multiples

[Guest guest]

I don't really explain Down syndrome....we just use the words. I think it

would be odd someday to sit down and say, hey kids Maggie has..... Just

like being adopted. I was adopted at like 3 weeks old but it is something I

have always known.

Someone mentioned label....I have heard this from other parents. I don't

think saying our children have Down syndrome is giving them a label. It

would be like saying telling people Sara has blue eyes is labeling

her.....Down syndrome is just part of Maggie.

Quinn-5, Sara and Maggie-2, Teddy -1 year

Siblings and Down syndrome

>

>

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I would like to start a little discussion about the siblings of our

children

> with Down syndrome. I have two little stories to tell.

>

> One day Sara (my non-Ds twin) and I were talking about Maggie and Down

> syndrome. I asked Sara, who is 2, what Maggie has. Sara said, in a

mangled

> way, Down syndrome. When I asked Sara what having Down syndrome meant she

> said, Maggie has broken eyes. Isn't that strange? Broken eyes.

>

> Then just last night my five year old had a friend over for dinner. The

> friend asked Quinn if Maggie was a baby. Without even looking up from his

> plate, Quinn said, Maggie has Down syndrome...that just means she is a

> little different than us. The two little boys just kept on eating. No

big

> deal.

>

> I have read a couple of books about siblings of kids with

> disabilities...nothing specific to Down syndrome. I think the most

> important thing I have taken from these reading it to try to keep the

> " special " sibling treated as much like the other as possible. Also, never

> make one be responsible for the other.

>

> I haven't noticed any resentment or anything yet. I would say the closest

> is for the months that Sara spent telling us that she had Down

> syndrome...she just can't stand for Maggie to have something she doesn't!

>

> We talk about Down syndrome...they are words that are no big surprise to

> anyone in this family...I know people who don't even tell the other kids

> that what their brother or sister has is Down syndrome. This seems

strange

> to me.

>

> I am just wondering what you all have to say about it.

>

>

> Quii-5, Sara and Maggie-2, Teddy-11 months

>

>

> http://DSyndrome.com/Multiples

>

>

[Guest guest]

Some Good Kids Books on DS:

Siblings:

* " 's First Year " by S. Rheingrover

* " We'll Paint the Octopus Red " by Stuve-Bodeen

For the non-sibling (like cousins):

" Be Good To Edddie Lee " by Virginia Fleming

Now for my " plug " ... you'll find these books and many more at

www.DSyndrome.com's store! Go www.DSyndrome.com and click " store "

Cheers!

Sara

--On Friday, October 19, 2001, 12:04 PM -0400 and Marc deBloois

<debloois4@...> wrote:

> I feel much like does. We haven't even tried to explain DS to

> Areille, it would be pointless. Her sister is her sister, at 26 months

> labels wouldn't mean anything to her. If we had other older children I

> would discuss it with them, but I think we will wait until Arielle is a

> bit older and has a better understanding of differences in people. She

> is still at the age where a baby is a baby, not a white, black or

> disabled baby. As far as I can tell Arielle doesn't see anything

> different about Annemieke. Health wise Annemieke has been very lucky.

> Perhaps if she had health issues and couldn't do all the things Arielle

> does, then that might need to be explained to Arielle. I have, however,

> been stocking up on some kids books about siblings of a special needs

> child.( I haven't found any I'm very excited about yet.) I'm also trying

> to find some books to send to cousins for Christmas. We don't live near

> family, but the couple of times a year they do see her, some

> understanding of what DS is and ISN'T would be helpful.

>

>

> Just my rambling thoughts,

>

> mom to twins Arielle and Annemieke (ds) 26 months

>

>

>

> Siblings and Down syndrome

>

>

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I would like to start a little discussion about the siblings of our

> children with Down syndrome. I have two little stories to tell.

>

> One day Sara (my non-Ds twin) and I were talking about Maggie and Down

> syndrome. I asked Sara, who is 2, what Maggie has. Sara said, in a

> mangled way, Down syndrome. When I asked Sara what having Down syndrome

> meant she said, Maggie has broken eyes. Isn't that strange? Broken eyes.

>

> Then just last night my five year old had a friend over for dinner. The

> friend asked Quinn if Maggie was a baby. Without even looking up from his

> plate, Quinn said, Maggie has Down syndrome...that just means she is a

> little different than us. The two little boys just kept on eating. No

> big deal.

>

> I have read a couple of books about siblings of kids with

> disabilities...nothing specific to Down syndrome. I think the most

> important thing I have taken from these reading it to try to keep the

> " special " sibling treated as much like the other as possible. Also, never

> make one be responsible for the other.

>

> I haven't noticed any resentment or anything yet. I would say the closest

> is for the months that Sara spent telling us that she had Down

> syndrome...she just can't stand for Maggie to have something she doesn't!

>

> We talk about Down syndrome...they are words that are no big surprise to

> anyone in this family...I know people who don't even tell the other kids

> that what their brother or sister has is Down syndrome. This seems

> strange to me.

>

> I am just wondering what you all have to say about it.

>

>

> Quii-5, Sara and Maggie-2, Teddy-11 months

>

>

> http://DSyndrome.com/Multiples

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

As in your family, we use the words Down Syndrome whenever we need to. We have been very open about talking to Sara and her brothers about it. Sara knows she has Down Syndrome and when we say it, she says "I have Down Syndrome." As far as her brothers go, in her threes, fours and fives, when her behavior was more challenging than it is now, sometimes both and Lucas would say, "I wish Sara didn't have Down Syndrome." The times were generally around shopping with all three, I couldn't look at what her brothers wanted to show me, because Sara was running off or having to stop the car when she was relentless about getting out of her car seat. Anyway, I explain often to the boys that Sara will learn most everything you do, except a little after. She has grown so much in the past year, though, so I don't hear those comments any more. When Sara rides the bus home from school, it is a long bus ride. When she starts getting out of her seat, the bus driver has Lucas come sit with her. Lucas has resented that because he wants to sit with his friend, so I have spoken with the bus driver about that, but most the time I just pick her up from school.

You are so right, though, that it is very important that each child be treated the same regardless of the disability, as much as possible.

We will have a Buddy Walk in our area on Sunday, October 28th. It is generally small; however, I take all of my children and it is often a time when Lucas and ask many questions.

Marcia

Mom to Sara (DS) and 6 and Lucas 10

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

Has the group just not been writing or am I not getting any e-mails, either?

Marcia

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

Sara was Cinderella and Gabe was a Ninja. We had a full day of Halloween festivities, beginning with a parade of all of the children at the Elementary School, where all three of my kids attend...the teachers' costumes were very creative, as well. Then our small town has a "meet in the park and trick-or-treat at the businesses in town." before it gets dark, and then we meant friends and went trick-or-treating in a neighborhood after dark. Sara had never done that. She couldn't keep up with the groups of boys we were with, including Gabe, so after five houses, she said she was tired and I ended up carrying her on my back the rest of the way. We then ended up at a family party, where my 11-year old was.

Hope everyone had a fun time, as well!

Marcia

Mom to Sara (DS) and 6 and Lucas 11

[Guest guest]

>From: Sara Greenberg <List@...>

>Reply-Multiples-DS

>Multiples-DS

>Subject: RE: Siblings and Down syndrome

>Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2001 13:54:46 -0400

>

>

>Some Good Kids Books on DS:

>

>Siblings:

>* " 's First Year " by S. Rheingrover

>* " We'll Paint the Octopus Red " by Stuve-Bodeen

>

>For the non-sibling (like cousins):

> " Be Good To Edddie Lee " by Virginia Fleming

>

>Now for my " plug " ... you'll find these books and many more at

>www.DSyndrome.com's store! Go www.DSyndrome.com and click " store "

>

>Cheers!

>Sara

>

>

>--On Friday, October 19, 2001, 12:04 PM -0400 and Marc deBloois

><debloois4@...> wrote:

>

> > I feel much like does. We haven't even tried to explain DS to

> > Areille, it would be pointless. Her sister is her sister, at 26 months

> > labels wouldn't mean anything to her. If we had other older children I

> > would discuss it with them, but I think we will wait until Arielle is a

> > bit older and has a better understanding of differences in people. She

> > is still at the age where a baby is a baby, not a white, black or

> > disabled baby. As far as I can tell Arielle doesn't see anything

> > different about Annemieke. Health wise Annemieke has been very lucky.

> > Perhaps if she had health issues and couldn't do all the things Arielle

> > does, then that might need to be explained to Arielle. I have, however,

> > been stocking up on some kids books about siblings of a special needs

> > child.( I haven't found any I'm very excited about yet.) I'm also

>trying

> > to find some books to send to cousins for Christmas. We don't live near

> > family, but the couple of times a year they do see her, some

> > understanding of what DS is and ISN'T would be helpful.

> >

> >

> > Just my rambling thoughts,

> >

> > mom to twins Arielle and Annemieke (ds) 26 months

> >

> >

> >

> > Siblings and Down syndrome

> >

> >

> >

> > Hi Everyone,

> >

> > I would like to start a little discussion about the siblings of our

> > children with Down syndrome. I have two little stories to tell.

> >

> > One day Sara (my non-Ds twin) and I were talking about Maggie and Down

> > syndrome. I asked Sara, who is 2, what Maggie has. Sara said, in a

> > mangled way, Down syndrome. When I asked Sara what having Down syndrome

> > meant she said, Maggie has broken eyes. Isn't that strange? Broken

>eyes.

> >

> > Then just last night my five year old had a friend over for dinner. The

> > friend asked Quinn if Maggie was a baby. Without even looking up from

>his

> > plate, Quinn said, Maggie has Down syndrome...that just means she is a

> > little different than us. The two little boys just kept on eating. No

> > big deal.

> >

> > I have read a couple of books about siblings of kids with

> > disabilities...nothing specific to Down syndrome. I think the most

> > important thing I have taken from these reading it to try to keep the

> > " special " sibling treated as much like the other as possible. Also,

>never

> > make one be responsible for the other.

> >

> > I haven't noticed any resentment or anything yet. I would say the

>closest

> > is for the months that Sara spent telling us that she had Down

> > syndrome...she just can't stand for Maggie to have something she

>doesn't!

> >

> > We talk about Down syndrome...they are words that are no big surprise to

> > anyone in this family...I know people who don't even tell the other kids

> > that what their brother or sister has is Down syndrome. This seems

> > strange to me.

> >

> > I am just wondering what you all have to say about it.

> >

> >

> > Quii-5, Sara and Maggie-2, Teddy-11 months

> >

> >

> > http://DSyndrome.com/Multiples

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I think, noone has been posted anything. How did everyones Halloween go? I took the girls trick-or-treating. Hannah was tigger and was Pooh. Hannah loved it. We would get back in the van and she would start saying , more more. I would tell her we will be there in a minute ans she would say, day (OK). Too cute!!! didn't like it at all. She should of been dressed as oscar the grouch. She still doesn't understand what is going on. She would of been happier at home. I hope all is well with everyone.

Pam mom to Hannah and

Rrietmann@... wrote: Hi All, Has the group just not been writing or am I not getting any e-mails, either? Marcia http://DSyndrome.com/Multiples