What Is It Like To Have A
Child With Down Syndrome?
In many ways it is similar to having a child without Down Syndrome. Your child laughs, cries, crawls, walks, plays, makes a mess, wants his own way, and loves you. There are differences, though. Milestones seem more miraculous and failures more devestating. You can be beaming with pride one day and crying with frustration the next. You must answer friendly questions as well as deal with people's predjudices. You must have high hopes for your child, yet, at the same time, realize his limitations.You must accept that it may be years before you hear your child say "I love you," and learn to recognize his love from his actions instead. You must be prepared to explain to siblings why their brother isn't talking or walking yet and help them instead to see the abilities their brother or sister has.You learn to see beauty and joy in the smallest of things by seeing what your child sees. In short, it's like riding a roller coaster, exhilerating and frightening at the same time.It's nothing that you can prepare for, but rather, a role that you grow into, and continue growing into for the rest of your life.What it is most of all, is one of the most frustratingly rewarding relationships that can be- that of parent and child.