A few days ago Noah's Dad posted a "question" on babycenter.com "What's the craziest / rudest thing anyone has ever said about DS to you?" And up to that point I really could not think of anything? UNTIL....
Today I was at lunch with 3 of my coworkers and one of them says to me/the group.."I was thinking about you this weekend." This took me back as this person and I are more acquaintances, but I thought it was sweet so I asked "Oh? What happened?...WRONG THING TO DO! She says....
I was sitting on a bench at the (pool? water park? park? I am not sure at this point) and I saw a boy with Down Syndrome. He walked up to a baby carriage nearby and pulled the baby's bottle out of the bag and started pushing the carriage around. Now I know there are different levels (or something to this effect) and I guess if you are around it you are used to it, but it took me by surprise and it was shocking. His dad came over and told the boy the baby was not his and the boy got upset and started making noise (she start moaning a little at this point to show me how it went) and flapping his arms.....
From this point on I don't know what she said. I quickly stood up and went to the restroom where I tried to stop myself from hyper ventilating (or so it felt) and I had a VERY hard time controlling myself and calming myself down. I could hear someone trying to get in the restroom, but it was just a one room bathroom and I had locked the door. I eventually came out, but had no idea what to say. Thankfully the other 2 ladies at the table started conversation right away when I returned trying to help me through, but the other lady I think just sat there. The lunch continued, but I could not do anything but paste a smile on my face. I do know that this person did not do it out of malice, but it hurt none the less. I don't think she understood how it was coming across. I do know she told the other ladies she was just trying to tell me that she felt my frustrations. Although this lady is older than me, she has no children, let alone a child with DS and I am not sure she has the right to say she feels my frustrations!
Today was a first kind of a day...
The Mommy
I had a first too. It wasn't quite the same but -- I took my "typical" to ballet camp. Holding AC in my arms, I walked in and there were suddenly uncomfortable stares---and silence. It was weird that just last week was my first experience like that. Maybe it has been happening all along and I was too tired to notice. My thought was---it has started. This is new territory to navigate for sure.
ReplyDeleteHang in there Anna! Sometimes I wonder too as I see people looking at us, but your girl is special and a cutie to BOOT!!!
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