Our parish has what I’ve heard other parents proclaim as The Best VBS in Town. As a result, our already pretty big parish has a very large VBS, which means lots of folks I don’t know. Or perhaps the reason I don’t know them is because we are the weirdo freak family that has only been to the 11:00 Mass that most families go to like, once…(7:00 am, anyone?)
What was my point? Oh, that’s right. Strangers at VBS. So I picked up Sarah Kate on Tuesday and was about to load Nathan in the car when a lady who was driving past me in the parking lot stopped and squealed out her window. I honestly don’t remember what she said exactly, but her tone expressed delight and she told me she had a sister (niece? cousin? Sadly, I’ve forgotten that part, too…) – “with Down syndrome” was implied.
I carried Nathan over to her and she gushed a little and squeezed him a lot. I’m ashamed to say that I’ve already forgotten most of the details – her name, her family member’s name, and even what she said – because these types of incidents are not all that uncommon. We chatted a sec and then waved goodbye and I might never see her again (or she may be my neighbor, who knows?)
No big deal.
On Wednesday afternoon, I was debating what to post about today. I’ve been struggling for the past several weeks about what to write, because I’ve grown weary of the impassioned pleas (The R-word! Prenatal Testing!) and I think our family life is pretty ordinary and not all that worthy of a daily rundown. (By the way, why DO you guys read this blog?) So I decided to go back and see what I was blogging in June of last year.
Nathan’s IDSC-captioned photo that went viral on Facebook.
The number of shares of that photo since last June is over 43,000, and people were still commenting on a fairly regular basis as late as January of this year. I read back through what I had written about my reaction to the photo and how it didn’t really phase me (still true), which then led me to scan through the comments people had put forward. I recalled how so many people thought he was a girl (!) and how plenty of others had a knee-jerk reaction, assuming that the photo was put out by rabid right-wingers (not true), and still others claimed that Nathan was being exploited.
But lots of folks had other things to say. They commented on how cute he was, how beautiful he was, how sweet he was, and the like. They mentioned their own friends and family members with Down syndrome. There were virtual hugs and squeals all over the place.
Kinda like that lady in the parking lot…and everywhere else.
Lots of cliches exist – “they’re so loving” and all that jazz. Frankly, I get tired of just the word “special” – especially in that most hated of sayings, “God only gives special children to special people” – because it’s so loaded and not really accurate. But people with Down syndrome DO have a little something special about them that typical people don’t have. Something, that is, other than an extra chromosome.
My son has the power to peel back the layers and reveal the true person inside. The way someone reacts to him tells me everything I need to know about their hearts.
If you haven’t seen the video I’ve linked below, please carve seven minutes out of your day to watch it. Mute the music if you want, but don’t miss the message. Baby Christian doesn’t have Down syndrome, but he has a little something special, too.
I saw that video a while ago and was moved to tears. bless that family!
Most of the time I read the blog just to check in on you guys and see what you’re up to. And most of the time I know I’ll be moved and/or inspired while reading – either by your family or by a link/article/video you’ve posted (like today).
I’m sad when I miss posts.
Why do I read your blog? Well personally it is your “double dose of special”. there are so many things that they do that every child has done – like jumping in mud puddles, falling overboard, getting soaked washing a car, deer hunting, frog catching and collapsing from exhaustion. In my case, it reminds me of days gone by with my two and some of their antics growing up. Yes there are serious topics on your blog too and those can help to snap us all back to reality when we need it.
I love that video.
And I like your blog because you write well, your family’s life is interesting and different than my own, and you bring a perspective to my worldview that would otherwise be lacking.
Well said!
You know why I read, because I’ve told you before, but I want to post this comment for others to see. My discovery of your blog came to me at a time in my life when I was facing many unanswered questions about my children, and how to help them with their struggles. Your stories not only gave me hope that I could handle it, you made me realize that I was not alone. We have so many answers now, even though we are still a work in progress. But I still read your blog because I love the way you word things and express yourself, I like to see how your family is doing and what you think about things, and I just plain like ya! lol