Understanding Down syndrome

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I know we've discussed how to explain Down syndrome to classmates and

siblings, but I'm wondering how people are explaining it to their children

with Down syndrome.

I ask because this past weekend, my husband was talking with Ian about his

future. Ian said he wanted to get married, have children, be a grandpa --

and my husband tried to explain to him what was possible and what was not.

In the course of their talk, Jim said that Ian wasn't able to have children

because of the Down syndrome, and Ian didn't know what Down syndrome was.

Now, we have explained it to him in the past, explained why he was behind

the skill levels of his siblings, etc., and he's been able to identify other

people with Down syndrome (such as on television). We've never hidden

this -- we've been talking about it in front of him and with him from the

very beginning, but I see that he doesn't get it now.

So...how do you get your children to understand? Rick, in particular, I'm

curious to know how Jan learned about the Down syndrome, what she thinks

about it, how she understands it. I'd like to know what you (everyone)

said, what worked, what didn't make it in, etc.

Thanks so much,

CK,

Mom to Ian (2/89),

(9/90),

and Rose (6/94)