I was wondering at about what age she might come to me and ask ...have any of you had that experience ? I was just thinking ahead, which I usually try not to do.

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Lisa Wife to Glenn Mom to Johnathan 24 Allison 21 Chad 15 Greta 14 Sarah 12 Jennifer 9 and Mazie 6 (DS/ vsd repair 8/03)

I'm sure its different for each child.
My friend over heard her six year old telling her friend that she had Down Syndrome the other day. Must admit it shocked me a bit...Robert isn't near this level of awareness...I think!

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Linda & John
mom to Hannah Kate (Age 12 ), Robert (Aged 6 - DS)


First day at school

When Anna was five we went to our local elementary school and showed a movie to all the kindergarteners and first graders which was made by NDSS and geared toward that age group and basically had the message "we're all different, we're all the same". To my shock, Anna took the microphone in front of 150 kids and told them she had a mother, a father, a brother, a sister, a dog named Jeffy and she "had
Down syndrome". We had never specifically told her that she had DS but it was spoken of at home and she clearly understood that she had it, although I don't think she truly appreciates what it means. She knows that there are things she can't do yet that her peers do, but there are also things that she can do (like read) that a lot of her peers are not yet doing. For her, it's her reality that she has something but it is not bothersome to her. My feeling about it is that you speak about it freely and she well gradually get to know it applies to her--kind of like when you adopt kids (which we have) and you mention adoption right from the start so it's no big secret. Just my humble opinion.

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Mary
Mom to Libby 6/92, Alex 9/93, Anna (DS)12/12/03

Please support the Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q284/maryc_010/a13-1.jpg[/img]
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Angela started picking out other kids with DS in books when she was around 3 (saying "me, me", and by 5 was identifying other kids with DS. By 2nd grade or so she could tell you which of her friends had DS or not. Interestingly, she has more trouble now than she did when she was younger. This past summer she attended DS camp, and she kept listing all of her friends who would be going, and sometimes I'd have to say, "No, Sam won't be going. Sam doesn't have DS, so Sam won't be going to this camp. Maybe the other camp next month."

It thought it was cute when she'd say, "Poor Sam, he doesn't have Down syndrome." What she meant was poor Sam can't come to camp with me, but it sounded like Poor Sam doesn't have DS, bummer for him! LOL

What I do find interesting is that at Special Olympics events and things like that, the athletes who have DS often seem to gravitate into groups. My friends who's kids who don't have DS say it's like our kids have this private little club and they sometimes leave out those who don't have DS. And...well...this is a rare situation where people with DS are in the majority.

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~Leah~

Did you visit my mom's blog today?
http://www.gardenofeagan.blogspot.com

And don't forget to visit MINE!
http://itsmylifemom.blogspot.com/

mom to Noah 23, Tyler 21, Angela 14 (DS)

Wow, you guys have some smart kids really. Tiana is nearing four and pretty much oblivious to much around her. Of course she is not talking yet, but she is a late bloomer I guess.
Anyway, my brother was a personal trainer for awhile and had a young man with DS as a client. My brother enjoyed him but would have to reign him in as he was a huge flirt and jokester. My brother was actually jealous of his ability to go talk to pretty girls. Well, I asked my brother about the DS and how this guy feel about it. My brother responded that he really believed this guy had no idea that he was any different than anybody else.

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Henry is 4 and I don’t think he’s noticed a difference yet. Last year he had a little girl in his class with DS and his teacher said they did seem to gravitate toward each other. When I see him on the playground he just wants to play with the big kids.

I wanted to comment on what Leah said. My mom often has the opportunity to officiate at Special Olympic swim meets. She says the kids with DS do seem to have a pretty tight clique. She also told me the guys with DS are so cute, strutting around like they are just slicker than snot.

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Racheal
mom to Henry (01/06), Ramona (06/08), and Cora (2/10)


Don't underestimate my ability
Don't definate my character
Don't belittle my authority
It's time you recognize my quality

-Peter Tosh, I Am That I Am

I think Nate knows...but he hasn't just come out and stated...."I have Down syndrome".

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Sherry
Evan 10, Olivia 9, and Nate 6*

Hosted on Fotki

Interesting topic. Just today Nichole was looking at pictures and she pointed at a little girl and thought it was her. I told her it was not and she seemed confused.

I don't think she realizes that the similarities are due to Down syndrome, or that she knows she is "different" but she can "see" other girls and think it is her. We talk about Cerebral palsy and Down syndrome all the time in our house, so I do think that she will know, just like she will know she is a girl, she has green eyes, and she has dark hair.

When will she realize that Down syndrome means she is "different?" that is a completely different story!

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Ellen, honored to be married to Andy since Feb 2003 and mom to Ellie (08/21/05) Nina (05/01/06 CP) and Nichole (10/02/07 DS)
www.elliestumbo.blogspot.com

"For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:13-14
God does not make mistakes