Here it is:
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I don’t know anything about being a parent to a child with down syndrome. I can’t tell you about parenting: a son with a lazy eye, a daughter with my sarcasm or a son who is an open nerve. BUT…..I do know…..
Beyond food, shelter and clothing, children need love, understanding, patience and guidance. It’s a parent’s job to help their children reach their full potential. Whatever that may be.
When your child asks, what do you say?
“You’re only talking about the bees ‘cause the bird stuff is too cute?
It’s like going potty, but not really? The hospital?”
“You did what? And I come out of…….
STOP! STOP TALKING MOMMY!!!!!!!!”
Well…..You LIE!!!!!
I know you missed me. I’m sorry.
We took a break for the stuffy-stuff holidays. You know….the day to stuff your face and then all the stuff that comes after you stuff your face to celebrate getting stuff. And I’m really scared of Fridays now. At least one of them. I didn’t know we had a crazy shopper day. Some traditions are really silly. Mommy and daddy kept me home safe.
Well….You didn’t miss too much.
Here I am taking a pre-nap before I eat my Thanksgiving meal. It must have helped because I was moving fire after I ate. I think mommy called it “hell on wheels”. Whatever!
Then I went outside to play with my shadow.
Then I talked to a tree.
Then I played football with my brother. I let him think he tackled me.
Moving on to some Christmas decorating. I’m helping my sister with the tree. See me making that wood garland dance? I should be a snake charmer.
Okay……Maybe I’m not exactly helping her.
Yeah….I didn’t like where she put that.
Oh my goodness. Are you seeing these powers?
Look at that throw. Look at the garland standing up in the air. I really need to go to Vegas and have my own show.
Looks like it’s back to the business of decorating. She’s so serious.
Wait! Is she judging me? I can feel her eyes on me. Clearly she’s close-minded. Garland can go vertical.
Look at that. Almost perfect.
Oh good. There’s more. I don’t want this spot to look bare.
So……Sorry if you missed me. I’m still in school. I don’t see myself dropping out yet. I still eat, drink, sleep, poop and wreak havoc on my family. But….you might not be seeing my handsome face every day or even every other day. Times are getting crazy and between you and me…I think my mommy is becoming a slacker. Seriously….She stays home….How busy can she be?
Day 38: No pictures of me for yesterday. I had to leave school early because of yuckiness. I had a fever and some other stuff that is just nobody’s business, cause a dude’s business should be private. Let’s just say it was questionable enough to make my mommy pick me up early from school.
She took me to the doctor and he said I could play the sick card and miss school today. But….He also said my liver seemed enlarged and I would need to get some blood drawn. That seemed silly to me. Why would anyone want a drawing of blood? And….Who do you call to do that?
Day 39: See how excited I am to go.
My mommy would be real big poopy head if she took a picture of me getting my blood taken. Instead she drew a quick version of my nightmare. That just makes her a little poopy head.
I’m a lot cuter than that.
After my torture, mommy and daddy took me to eat. I think it was more for them. I like french fries. Daddy is making a funny face to hide the fact his face looks funny.
I don’t trust daddy. He is trying to take some of my food.
I have to give him the stinky eye to keep him away.
Then we went to my sister’s school to watch her perform with her Spirit Squad and Drama Club.
“My nap was interrupted for this!” (I hope I used the right finger. My sign language is kinda rusty.)
I posted this picture about a week ago.
This is what my daddy can accomplish drug-free. Pretty impressive effort on his part.
This is what my mommy can accomplish on drugs.
(legally prescribed ones – in her name)
What a showoff!
This is one of the reasons that daddy married mommy. He won’t tell me the other reasons.
I’m glad mommy is getting better from her surgery, because I missed her.
I really missed the stuff that mommy does for me.
Oh darn! Does this mean I can’t stay up late anymore daddy?
Just like a regular dude:
I hang with my bro and play video games.
No cutesy comments from mommy today either. NO GIRLS ALLOWED!
Just like a regular dude……..I agree with brothers before mothers.
Or something like that. 
TODAY was Grandparent’s Day at my school. All the old folks got to come in this morning and eat breakfast with us and take pictures. I think it’s fun for them because they are retired and bored.
My “genetic” grandparents were all unavailable. I guess they have a busy retirement. I decided to adopt a grandma. Who says you can’t pick your family? Actually……A lot of people say that, but I did, because I’m awesome.
Mommy! Look! I’m pretending to be you when you were on those angry-loopy pills.
“I am a mommy zombie. I will destroy you.”
Okay. Make sure I don’t fall. I know how to call social services.
Daddy. You can let go now.
We’ve been doing this for a few weeks now.
I guess mommy and daddy hung around since they had me in their 40’s. They could pass as grandparents.
And what is this? I get a lousy banana peel.
Um….Tastes like……
Well, it doesn’t taste like chicken.
I’m hiding it in this cup.
My adopted grandma gave me money.
Hmmm……It looks like the real thing.
Let me find some ladies so I can flash my money around.
Wait. Concentrate.
What did daddy tell me about wasting money on the ladies?
Get a haircut so you don’t look like Eddie Munster?
No. That’s not it, but that’s a good idea. Oh yeah……Don’t!
Grandma. I’m going to use the money to show you a magic trick instead.
Okay. Now you see it and now you don’t.
Pretty impressive right?
I bet you wanna know how I did that trick.
(“Daddy better pick that up before they figure me out.”)
Grandma was so impressed, she’s letting me play before school starts.
So you think an introduction is in order?
Grandma. It’s not real. I think I’m safe from being stung.
Oh no! We’ve been discovered.
That mommy is everywhere grandma. I can’t get anything by her.
Is it in the mommy manual to look so serious when kids just wanna have fun?
DAY: 10
Seriously…..Instead of talking to the hand, my mom is making me talk to the boot. She had surgery yesterday. It must have made her very tired because she is laying around and sleeping a lot. OR…..She’s really lazy.
No pictures of me before school yesterday, but here I am trying to get my mommy to pay me some attention.
DAY: 11
Daddy took me to school today. Here I am standing outside the joint.
I’m double dog daring him to make me go inside.
Okay….I’ll go, but first I’m pulling out the dance moves.
Gotta do something before I walk through the doors.
I’m starting speech therapy in about a week, but I don’t really understand why. I mean….I’m not even talking yet. How do they know I’m even going to have a problem? Maybe I’ve got nothing to say. Maybe my mommy and daddy should be asking themselves why I don’t want to talk. Maybe they should all be in some kind of therapy.
I’d bet my Cheetos that my brothers and sister need some type of speech or social therapy way more than I do.
THIS IS WHAT MY BIGGEST BROTHER SOUNDS LIKE
THIS IS WHAT MY NEXT BIG BROTHER SOUNDS LIKE
THIS IS WHAT MY BIG SISTER SOUNDS LIKE
See what I mean. Doesn’t make sense to me. Maybe they want to make sure at least one of their kids speaks English and I’m their last hope. Yeah….that’s probably it.
Here’s a picture of me so you don’t leave without getting “justice”. My mommy thinks that’s funny. I don’t know why.
Mom is taking over today. I told you she would from time to time.. She said I needed to skedaddle, so I’ll do my best. “La, la, la….I’m not listening.
For those of you who follow or read me elsewhere, this will be old news. Sorry about that! For those of you who are hearing this for the first time……stay where you are.
My friend (Stirling Gardner) created a site: An Open Apology. Anyone is welcome to write and submit an apology letter, anonymously or not. It doesn’t matter who the recipient is, what you’re sorry for, or what tone you write in. It just matters that you mean it.
HERE IS MY SUBMISSION (apology to Justice):
Although these words will never meet your ears, I’m apologizing anyway. You are and will always be protected by what I felt that day, in that moment. After all, I’m a mother. I’m your mother. It’s my job to protect you.
Admitting something I’m deeply ashamed of isn’t easy. Even your father doesn’t know this. How could I tell him? He didn’t share my feeling. He didn’t share my fear. I didn’t want to look less in his eyes or risk losing a piece of his heart. But, this isn’t about him. It’s about you and me.
During my pregnancy, nothing was out of the ordinary. Although it had been eight years since your sister was born, it was like riding a bike. The only difference: I was deemed to be “high risk” because of my “advanced maternal age”. At 40, I was five-years deep into the label. I didn’t mind. I felt great.
Besides the standard “what sex is your baby” ultrasound, (I’m sorry my heart sank a bit when they told me you were a boy. Your sister has proven that raising one girl is more than I can handle.) I was advised to get a genetic one due to my ancientness.
TO VIEW THE REST, GO TO: Mom Apologizes to Son with Down Syndrome
A Dose of Justice (...courtesy of my crazy mom) 