My 2 best friends and myself took DD1 and DD2 to see The Gruffalo today.
Upon reflection and hindsight being a wonderful thing I should have known really, but I'm guilty of just cracking on and throwing DD1 into situations, as if she didn't have Down's syndrome and dealing with it when faced with it, whatever that might be.
I was fine until the mouse got the audience to scream. She just doesn't do mass screaming, and who can blame her? It wasn't nice and she sat on her godmothers lap with her hands over her ears and was upset. I was going to leave but then she seemed to start to enjoy it again. i could see her 'happy hands' (!) and I relaxed.
Cue the Graffalo coming into the crowd and coming straight up to DD1! I couldn't see her face but the Gruffalo's expression confirmed what I thought might happen.
I should have taken her home but we thought the planned idea of the Rainforest Cafe might take her mind off the scary Gruffalo and she said she was hungry.
On the way she was confronted by another major fear - balloons.
A group of boys wrestled a huge balloon display outside a restaurant and one popped literally right in her face!
The timing couldn't hav ebeen worse. Those little hands ddin't leave her ears and she was very stressed.
Once inside the Rianforset cafe, after 5 minutes of 'Noooooooooooooooooooooooo's she calmed down and seemed very happy with the crayons and again I relaxed.
Cue huge Rainforest Cafe thunderstorm.
She freaked she was clinging to anyone and everyone. We had ordered and other friends had joined us so we moved to a part of the restaurant that was actually not being used but our waiter agreed to serve us there. We got through a meal. Ish!
We had pockets of happiness but on the whole it was stressful and upsetting for her and in turn for everyone else.