People often have questions when they find out our daughter has Down syndrome—some sweet, some strange, and some that make us giggle. In this post, I’m sharing a few of the real questions we’ve been asked, along with honest thoughts on what they mean, how we respond, and why we don’t mind the curiosity. Because when people ask, it means they want to understand—and that’s always a good thing.
Have you ever been caught off guard by a question about your child? I have. In this blog, I talk about the tough questions I’ve faced as a parent of a child with Down syndrome and how they’ve made me see how much people still don’t understand.
Decades ago, children with Down syndrome were often placed in institutions, hidden from society and denied basic rights. Parents were pressured to give up their babies, and little was known about their true potential. Fast forward to today, and we see incredible progress—better healthcare, education, and support services allowing individuals with Down syndrome to live fuller, more independent lives. But with medical advances also comes a heartbreaking reality: a drastic decline in birth rates due to high termination rates. Have we truly reached acceptance, or is there still more work to be done?