Re: people say the dumbest things. . .

[Guest guest]

Casey,

Congratulations on being so patient and educating yet another person. I just educated a mom yesterday that asked me what is Down Syndrome and what causes it? I guess we are so immersed in Down Syndrome that I find it hard to believe, people actually know very little about it, so it takes patience for me sometimes, too.

Marcia Mom to Sara (DS) and 6 and Lucas 10

[Guest guest]

Hello to everyone - I have been reading the responses to Casey's letter, and believe me, I know just how you feel...I really do. When Casey says that she chose to "Quietly Educate", I felt just then how lucky her kids are to have her for a mom. I, too, have had to deal with cruel remarks or questions (I received the life expectancy one too...). I try to move on from them and do what I can to give out the correct information. If one more person is enlightened, then I have accomplished something for Annie and all of our children. Hope that all is well with everyone, and that we get the chance to chat soon. Take care )

Love, Baxter (mom to twins Annie (Ds) and , 4)

[Guest guest]

Casey,

Our twins are very close in age, and Tyler(DS) will be two

on 11/11. I get the same response everytime I go out. People just

can't seem to believe even when I tell them Tyler has DS. I guess

they just think boys should always be bigger than girls. My twins

now look a year apart, in fact Tyler is still wearing 12month clothes.

Katy

Mom to 4yrs and twins and Tyler(DS) 22months

> Hello all,

>

> Ready to hear a couple more dumb remarks from unthinking people? I

was at

> the park with the kids yesterday, and there was another woman there

with

> twins, so I said hello and that I had twins too. After the " really,

I

> thought they were a year apart! " comment, I told her that

had DS

> and that she would just be a smaller person, in fact there is a

separate

> growth chart for kids with DS.

>

> After saying she couldn't tell had DS, she asked me what

her life

> expectancy would be!!!!!!! Realizing she meant no offense, I talked

a little

> bit about heart defects and the development of surgeries letting

people born

> with these defects live long, normal lives. Then she said that

given her

> age, she was LUCKY she didn't have a DS baby. I let her finish her

thought,

> with her comment about her age, then said I had never considered

myself

> UNLUCKY to have . She said, " oh, that's really good. . "

then

> finally got it and said " I guess I shouldn't have said it that way.

.. . . "

>

> Good thing I wasn't in a crabby mood or I would have bitten her head

off.

> Instead I just tried to quietly educate, but it took more patience

that

> dealing with 2 two year olds! I just had to vent.

>

> Casey, mom to (DS) and , 22mo.

[Guest guest]

Hi all

I guess after doing so much research and gaining experience of Ds, it's easy to forget that most people know as much as I did when I first found out Emma had Ds. I actually find children more offensive than adults when they stare at Emma or Nicki. Kids are so honest and the poor parents that have their kids yell something across the playground about Emma - just to see the grimace on their faces is apology enough!

CarolynMum to on, , Emma (Ds) and Nicki (Ds)www.geocities.com/nz_mom/sykesfamily.html

Re: people say the dumbest things. . .

Casey, Congratulations on being so patient and educating yet another person. I just educated a mom yesterday that asked me what is Down Syndrome and what causes it? I guess we are so immersed in Down Syndrome that I find it hard to believe, people actually know very little about it, so it takes patience for me sometimes, too. Marcia Mom to Sara (DS) and 6 and Lucas 10 http://DSyndrome.com/Multiples

[Guest guest]

I don't know if others would agree with me on this or not, but here

goes...... I don't tell people Annemieke has DS. Don't get me wrong, the 2

times someone asked me I told them yes and was happy to discuss it. But

your run-of-the-mill gawker in Wal-mart doesn't want or need the

information. When I do tell people, they never know what to say, so I let

them think what they will. Sometimes I just say Arielle is so big, which

she is, because it runs in my family. My " little " sister is 6'2 " ! (Her

youngest daughter is 4 months older than my twins and is barely as tall as

Annemieke.) Maybe as my girls get older I may get more confrontational (DH

is laughing... " more!! " ), but for now, I don't need the hassles. Going out

shopping alone with twins, your enough of a curiosity.

mom to Annemieke (ds) and Arielle almost 26 months

[Guest guest]

WOW Casey!

You were very controlled in that situation........I know, I know,

someone of you would agree, yes a " chance to educate " .......had it been

me and the wrong time of the month, education would have been second to

showing her how insensitive and RUDE she is!

sorry.........

Gail

BObby 7, Jillian 5, and Tara{Ds} 30 months

[Guest guest]

I agree...if people don't ask I am not sure why I would launch into a

discussion about Maggie having Down syndrome...though I believe it is pretty

obvious. People just comment on how cute she is. The thing I hate is when

people give me the " ohhhh, she's so cute but how sad she has Down syndrome "

look. You all probably have seen it once or twice. I feel like saying,

hey! don't feel bad for me, SHE IS JUST FINE!!!!!!! and especially don't

feel bad for her....she could care less that she has an extra chromosome.

Maggie and Sara have always been a pound apart and 2 inches in height-Sara

being on the taller and heavier end. You can only tell Maggie is shorter if

they are standing side by side and lord knows the two of them don't sit

still long enough for that!

RE: Re: people say the dumbest things. . .

>

> I don't know if others would agree with me on this or not, but here

> goes...... I don't tell people Annemieke has DS. Don't get me wrong, the

2

> times someone asked me I told them yes and was happy to discuss it. But

> your run-of-the-mill gawker in Wal-mart doesn't want or need the

> information. When I do tell people, they never know what to say, so I let

> them think what they will. Sometimes I just say Arielle is so big, which

> she is, because it runs in my family. My " little " sister is 6'2 " ! (Her

> youngest daughter is 4 months older than my twins and is barely as tall as

> Annemieke.) Maybe as my girls get older I may get more confrontational

(DH

> is laughing... " more!! " ), but for now, I don't need the hassles. Going out

> shopping alone with twins, your enough of a curiosity.

>

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

>

>

>

>

> http://DSyndrome.com/Multiples

>

>

[Guest guest]

, I answer people the same way. I feel if they ask, I will tell them MORE than they really wanted to know. A lot of people just ask, are they twins. I answer yes, and leave it at that. Sometimes they will comment on their size, and I will say that although Davey is the big brother, he got my short genes. My husband is more vocal about it and usually explains that Davey has DS. He gets into some very interesting conversations. People are usually caught by surprise and ask lots of silly questions. mom to Amy 14 tomorrow!, Kelsey 11, Davey (DS) 19 months, and Will 19 months RE: Re: people say the dumbest things. . . I don't know if others would agree with me on this or not, but heregoes...... I don't tell people Annemieke has DS. Don't get me wrong, the 2times someone asked me I told them yes and was happy to discuss it. Butyour run-of-the-mill gawker in Wal-mart doesn't want or need theinformation. When I do tell people, they never know what to say, so I letthem think what they will. Sometimes I just say Arielle is so big, whichshe is, because it runs in my family. My "little" sister is 6'2" ! (Heryoungest daughter is 4 months older than my twins and is barely as tall asAnnemieke.) Maybe as my girls get older I may get more confrontational (DHis laughing..."more!!"), but for now, I don't need the hassles. Going outshopping alone with twins, your enough of a curiosity. mom to Annemieke (ds) and Arielle almost 26 months