Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Different.

For the most part, I'm cool with Down syndrome. In fact, I truly forget that my daughter has three copies of the 21st chromosome. Because in our day to day life, Down syndrome is just not that big of a deal.


Sure, we go to therapies once a week. And sure, when Miss B gets sick my mind instantly jumps a lot further down the worst-case-scenario road than it would when T-Man or Fearless get the sniffles. But we are used to all that; Miss Banana is just Miss Banana and life goes on.

So when a peer points out her delays and is upset about them, I am blindsided.

Full on hit-upside-the-head-with-a-brick-outta-nowhere blindsided.

What?!?  Miss B can't do everything you do right now?!?
Oh.

You're right.

I forgot.

I forget that typically developing kids Miss B's age are head-and-shoulders taller than her.  I forget that they are speaking in full sentences.  I forget that they are potty trained and can tell you what they want to be when they grow up and exactly where it hurts when they fall down. I forget that they can dress themselves, drink from an open cup, and open their bedroom door in the morning.  I forget that they can run and jump.



I forget that they can see the differences between Miss B and themselves.

I forget that the differences matter to anyone.


Because when I look at her face, I don't see anything different. I see my lovable little lady, who is eager to please, eager to learn, knows how to work the crowd, and loves to be the center of attention. I see a little girl that works hard to master new skills. I see a little girl that knows how to pout to get what she wants from Daddy.

I see hope.
I see trust.
I see kindness.

I see what I see in all of my children: The Future.

Nothing different here.



5 comments:

Cindy said...

A great post. Those outside comments blindside me as well. Beth is just... Beth. I forget she's different, until we go outside.

Kristin said...

Some of Piper's friends are beginning to ask why Max doesn't talk. They now have younger siblings who are younger than Max who talk up a storm. It's always one of those, well, he'll talk someday... maybe... kind of responses. Because, well, maybe he won't. I actually find it harder and harder to answer them ;)

Patty said...

Beautifully spoken! Different is...different. But that's not a bad thing at all! Miss Banana is lovely :-)

Jenny said...

I can relate exactly to every word! <3 <3 <3

Kim said...

Little Miss B is a joy to all she meets, and even to those, like me, who haven't yet had the pleasure to meet her in person, but who has been touched by the love that radiates from her sweet face.

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