AIBU to *sometimes* wish my DS was 'normal'?

[MooMoo12345]

Name change.

I just want to make things crystal clear. My DS is perfect, he has great character, a wonderful smile and can lighten up anyone's day. I actually wouldn't change him for the world - I'd change the world for him though... He has Down's Syndrome (he's 7) and life is really tough, not for me and not for him really (because he isn't that aware, but he will be later) all the children, which I can deal with, after all, they are just kids! Tend to point and go "ewww, Mummy/Daddy, why does he look like that!?" and I will happily say "he's most certainly not 'ewww', but he has a condition called Down's Syndrome" and then the parents will be like "yes, aren't you lucky you don't have that, sweetie, wouldn't it be utterly dreadful" and I appreciate it may not be said in a horrible way, but all I can do is protect my son the best I can from the world and sometimes I get really upset and sometimes wish he was 'normal', but for his sake and I get that's harsh, but one day, I'll die and there will be no one to protect him :(

[heavenlypink]

I get it moo moo YANBU **
**
DS 18 (soon to be 19) mild/moderate learning disabilities which impacts across day to day life . Moving over to adult services and the reality of 'after I'm gone' is constantly in my thoughts these days

[Toffeelatteplease]

Totally get it. Yanbu.

Have a DS with SN xxx

[Owllady]

I think anyone with a child with a learning disability worries about how vulnerable they are and what will happen in the future :( other people are arseholes but the older they get the less you notice it really, well I don't notice it at all tbh. You develop a thick skin :)

[SamVJ888]

I have a beautiful Dd with a disability and very slight learning difficulties. My mum always used to tell me how boring the world would be if everyone was the same and I think there's never been a truer word spoken.

[Owllady]

I'm usually factual but my daughter is sixteen now so she answers for herself. She told a woman in lidl (who obviously hadn't seen anyone with SN before) to SHUUUUT UP!
It made me :o

[CottonFrock]

Of course yANBU. All that 'special children are given to special parents' guff is toxic because it doesn't allow parents of children with SN any space to have anything other than cutesy-pie positivity, and it deletes the things that you're talking about now, which are difficult.

Have you come across an annoying Irush TV presenter called Brendan O'Connor? He only redeems himself in my eyes by occasional journalism about being the parent of a daughter with DS.

www.independent.ie/life/family/brendan-oconnor-happy-birthday-to-my-baby-girl-mary-31485899.html

[CottonFrock]

Irish, not Irush.

[GloGirl]

YANBU Moo. I'm so sorry you have to deal with such awful comments

The world beggars belief sometimes. Could you spend a bit of time and think about what you would really like to say in those situations? I think it would be perfectly reasonable if you over hear a child asking questions and say "That boy over there is called Jim, he's my son. He might be look a little different to you but he loves cars and trucks and loves watching Ben 10. You could always come and say Hello, Jim loves meeting new people"

I'd probably have a card for the parents that said "Don't be such a rude cunt" And hand it over as I walked off. Not really, but I would probably give them a Paddington Bear stare and imagine handing over the card.

Or how about just the phrase "That's a hurtful thing to say" when someone is a right dickhead.

[SpoiltMardyCow]

Golly Moo Moo.... of course you wish your child didn't have DS. And more for the reason you said...that you son will have a tougher life and you worry about what will happen to him when you're gone.
People are ignorant and say cruel things.
YANBU.
I feel for you and wish you only the best.

[VagueIdeas]

Do children really say "Ew!" at the facial features of a child with Downs? I just can't imagine that.

and then the parents will be like "yes, aren't you lucky you don't have that, sweetie, wouldn't it be utterly dreadful"

People have actually SAID that?

[MooMoo12345]

Yes, I have had it a good few times, but slightly different wording - I used a specific situation, I must admit, these were mothers who, let's just say, more plastic than some.

[bishboschone]

I hear you !! I have a son with an undiagnosed genetic condition .. I have to say I'd flatten anyone who said that about my child . It's shockingly rude !! I absolutely adore my son but I'm happy to admit I would change him . I'm terrified of what will happen to him when he is an adult and we aren't here . The world is hard enough for 'typical ' children and adults . To watch my son struggle at school everyday to walk / communicate / learn is frankly heart breaking .

[MooMoo12345]

With Down's, he is so very happy and enjoys everything, which is why I say I wouldn't change him - because even if he didn't have Down's he wouldn't be happy all the time, so I guess that's a plus!

[toldmywrath]

That is dreadful of those parents to say that. I had a dear brother with Downs syndrome (now sadly passed away) and I never heard those sort of remarks, but I did get upset by some (usually children) reactions of fear- as if my wonderful brother was something other than a human being.

YANBU in your sometime wish for normality, my mum grieved over the potential that was not available to my brother. He was a very happy chap but he never had the opportunities that me & my siblings did.

[notmaryberry]

I always say that I wouldn't change DD for me, but I would change her for her. We're in the teenage years, so now I am into worrying about her future.

[hefzi]

What on earth is wrong with people?! Why on earth would you respond in that way to a DS child? And why on earth do people nowadays seem to have to run other children - NT or not - down to their own DC?

I'm sorry you have to face such unpleasant and ignorant people, OP: your response is great, but they are a bunch or rude, ignorant, ghastly fuckers I love GloGirl's response though- it's horrid that people are encouraging their children to see the condition and not the person.

[Tupperwarelid]

YANBU. My son has ASD, I wish he didn't. I worry alot about what will happen when he leaves his primary school, where everyone knows him, and moves to a large secondary. I have no idea what the future holds and that makes me scared for him.

I've had comments about his melt downs and behaviour in public. I wish I had the balls to make some comment back but I'm normally fighting back tears and want to get away as soon as possible.

[MistressDeeCee]

This has shocked me a bit. Particularly in this day and age people are STILL that ignorant, have they truly never seen a Downs Syndrome child before? & even if so, the open rudeness is nasty behaviour their parents must be pigs. Sorry for insult to pigs.

I really can't get my head around what the parents said.

[Sirzy]

Every child I have encounter with who had ds the only reaction from me is to smile, they all seem to have such lovely contagious smiles!

I am struggling with ds and his disabilities at the moment and the comments others come out with make it even harder. Especially the school parents

[leelu66]

As a child, I would never have dreamed of pointing and talking about a child who was different, or an adult even.

Are those who are mean as children mean as adults?

YANBU, OP. I hope your DS is happy and secure always.

[Xmasbaby11]

Yanbu at all.

I'm sorry that people have reacted so awfully - that is very rude.

[MooMoo12345]

I've had teens make horrible comments too - about him needing to lose weight and looking like a 'potato' and at that age, I let loose, completely flip out...

[YakTriangle]

Oh my god. Incredible that people would actually say things like that to you and your child. What kind of message does that give to their children? A child can be curious and come away better informed when they say silly things, adults should know better than to be so thoughtless.