What Are People With Down Syndrome Like?

Down syndrome is caused by a triplication of the 21st chromosome. March 21st is World Down Syndrome Day because 03-21 works out nicely as a numerical representation of the 3 copies of the 21st chromosome that cause Down syndrome.

So prior to having a child with Down syndrome, I had a certain image in my mind about what people or children with Down syndrome were like. More on that in a minute.

Retarded.

 How often these days we hear people using the word "retarded" when they are talking about someone who did something stupid or talking about an object that doesn't work properly? I've seen FaceBook statuses reading, "Dude made a left turn in front of me and I almost hit him! What a RETARD!" and "My oven is so retarded! It burned the cookies again!"

Perhaps, like I once did, many people have outdated ideas of what people with Down syndrome are like, and the current slang use of the word "retarded" only serves to solidify these ideas.

Before The Skink was a part of my life, if someone talked about having a mentally retarded family member, the image that sprang into my head came directly from turn-of-the-century asylums. A dimly-lit room with a half-dressed person sitting on a chair... rocking back and forth and making weird noises. The expression would have been blank... the eyes devoid of emotion or personality. Perhaps there would be a bit of drool on the chin.

Or maybe the guy from the movie "There's Something About Mary" would creep into my head. An over-weight man screaming "franks and beans!" in a thick voice, and then being teased and bullied by other kids. Sad!

So... what are people with Down syndrome like?

As you can see, my daughter paints a dismal picture of life with a child with Down syndrome! Note the blank expression, the lifeless look and the drool...

So sad! It's like she doesn't even know I'm in the room with her.

Yes, most of the time she sits in an empty room, partially clothed (in a potato sack), just... rocking...

Aaaaaaaahhaaahaaaahaaahaa! Back to reality, The Skink is so amazingly "normal" it might knock your socks off!  She has more personality than you can imagine, and what a personality it is! She has the funniest sense of humor and perfect timing - she always seems to know just how to get us to laugh.

Is it sad to watch how her peers treat her? Um, only if you think it's sad when every single kid at school knows her name and yells "Hi, Skink!" when ever they see her. Only if you think it's sad when the other girls on the playground argue about who gets to help my small-statured Skink reach the monkey bars, and only if you think it's sad when a large herd of children want to sit with her at lunch... heartbreaking, really!

..

And am I worried about The Skink's future? Will she be able to learn enough skills to live independently?

Well... yesterday The Skink stayed home from school with a slight fever. It was nearly lunch time, but I was busy folding a ton of laundry. Apparently The Skink took matters into her own hands.

I herd noises coming from the kitchen, but I just assumed she was playing... until I heard the microwave go on. I decided I better check, and sure enough, the microwave was on... and something was in it.

Spaghetti-O's! She knew it was lunch time, she chose a good lunch option, she got it out of the pantry and she was proudly cooking her own lunch while I did the laundry! She even already had a spoon in hand!

The can? Well hey... as quickly as my kid picks up new skills, I've made a point of NOT showing her how to use a can opener! I can't afford for her to try out new recipe ideas just yet...

But the answer is "No." I'm not worried about this kid's future! I don't know what she'll want to be when she grows up - - a respiratory therapist? A chef? A grocery bagger? I'll say the same thing I say about my other two kids. I don't care what job she chooses as an adult. I just want her to be happy! And really, I have far fewer worries about The Skink's future happiness than I do about Iraq's.