NoelMN said he wants to have Down Syndrome, when he grows up.

[LaraMN]

:rofl:

I guess he doesn't see his brother as being "afflicted," with it, huh? I love the way kids think.

[miss_american_pie]

1. How old is he?

[LaraMN]

2. He's eight. I thought he knew it wasn't something you "got,"

but apparently I was wrong. Yesterday he told me Jack has really cute eyes, "because of his Downs." They always see the good things when they're young. :loveya: I hope age and wisdom don't rob him entirely of that.

[miss_american_pie]

3. That is very sweet

My four year old hasn't figured that he'll be an adult before I'm dead.

Anytime he's not happy with me I get this speech:

Mommy, when you're DEAD and I'm the grown-up I'm gonna make all the rules like no eating lunch and dinner just CANDY and no time-outs and only drinking SODA and no going to bed at night.

:eyes:

[LaraMN]

5. Lol! That sounds awfully familiar...

My daughter's also four, and she keeps talking about when I was a little girl and she was my Mommy. It must be awfully interesting to be a four year old.:rofl:

[miss_american_pie]

6. That stuff took months to straighten out

I was seriously concerned when he couldn't remember that I did not grow my husband in my stomach.

:rofl:

[LaraMN]

9. Omg!

:rofl: Just wait! Noel is in second grade, and he's already got little girls following him around and asking him if he "likes" them. It gets really interesting. It makes me feel old, though!

[Gormy Cuss]

4. Kids remind us that at one time we had few pre-concieved notions

on limitations because of the genetic lottery, or race, or religion, etc.

I hope he never views Jack as 'afflicted.'

[LaraMN]

7. I'll certainly do my best not to let him think that way.

He's very protective of his younger siblings, and very empathetic. I think he'll learn alot from his brother; I definitely have.

[Random_Australian]

8. That is AWESOME.

:headbang:

Must have had a some pretty awesome parents to go this long without negative judgement. :yourock:

[LaraMN]

10. I'm constantly surprised that we haven't had any negativity yet.

He understands that Jack takes alot longer to learn things and looks a bit different from most kids, but I think that's about the depth of his comprehension at this point. I just answer his questions as he presents them and figure he'll learn more as time progresses. I see no sense in worrying about it too much, because I have no idea what to expect, and many fears can turn out to be unfounded.

[Random_Australian]

11. And your sigline is awesome too.

Looks like someone has raised a very good family.

:applause:

[LaraMN]

14. Aw, thanks!

I'm working on it- or them! They're pretty cool little people.

[BlueIris]

15. Aw. That is such a sweet post.

There's a book I wanted to recommend to you, by the way: "Hidden Gifts of the Introverted Child." I have no idea if this would be right for Jack, as I believe you have described him as cheerful in the past, but if he is one of our society's precious introverts when he is older, there is some interesting material in this text about how to help him devlop the many benefits to being introspective.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0761135243/103-8830756-0043827?v=glance&n=283155

[hyphenate]

12. Children have a very

wide, accepting view of the world. I only wish more adults did. That's great, though. My brother is permanently disabled both mentally and physically, and it really does open up the eyes of children. They learn right from a very early age to acknowledge, but not patronize, those who are different than they are.

[LaraMN]

13. Indeed.

I think Jack will give his siblings a valuable degree of insight into an important aspect of human nature, and for that I'm grateful. I wouldn't take away his Down's, if I could. I expect my kids to grow to recognize the challenges Jack contends with, but to realize that his path is unique and that he is a human being of great substance and value. They love him like crazy; seeing the way my kids interact is one of the most rewarding aspects of being their Mom.