Celebrating My Developmentally Disabled Daughter's 21st Birthday!

[cwinter474]

I am the parent of a developmentally disabled young adult. She will be 21 this July.

Every year at this time we get questions from well meaning family and friends asking - when is she ever going to graduate? or what is she going to do with her life? or my favorite "What are you ever going to do with her?"

This year I have had enough. I am sending out the attached announcement.

Wondering how it reads to someone not attached to the situation.

thanks!

Carol

 

[raebates]

I think it's beautiful.

 

[pchockeymom]

Awesome. I love it.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I love it too. It says what you want to say with stooping to sarcasm or negativity.

Good for you - taking the high road and being positive, and being proud of your daughter's accomplishments. Maybe this will help some of those making the negative comments to think before they speak again.

 

[chefa]

It reads like an beautiful announcement by proud parents of a awesome young lady! Congrats!

 

[cwinter474]

Thank you all for the kind words.
I thought I walked the edge of sarcasm just a bit.

Thought I might change this part, it seems odd to me - But I am not sure how to change it.

And so we are proud of
Kayla Nicole Winterland
today. For all that she has learned

Its like we are only proud of what she has learned today, not what she is or going to be able to learn in the furture. I know she isn't ever going to become the cat vet that she wants to be. But she isn't going to only be able to live in a adult care center either. She is to smart for that.

maybe "we are proud of Kayla Nicole Winterland today and everyday, for what she has allready learned and for all that she will continue to learn tomorrow" Because we know that this is just the beginning of her graduations"

?????????????? what do you think?




I would like to say, Kayla is doing the best she can do, leave her alone. or If you were more aware of whats going on in your own family... you'd know she isn't going to ever have the "normal" graduation. But I won't

 

[pampered1224]

"today and everyday. For all that she has learned and will continue to learn." It is wonderful though no matter what you might add! The feeling in your heart really comes through. Also, I know it has to be a painful thing to hear those things on an almost continual basis. You, however, can honestly say on a humanitarian level, they are certainly less intelligent than your daughter!

 

[cwinter474]

Thank you John

 

[Shelly Flanagan]

or you could say we are proud of her because every day is a graduation SHE DOESN'T TAKE FOR GRANTED! God bless you and your daughter for seeing the world thru different eyes that the rest of us take for granted every day!

 

[cwinter474]

Thanks Shelly, and to all of you that took time to respond

 

[Intrepid_Chef]

I think it's beautiful. Both versions.

 

[Hunter Mom]

I like that. The high school I was at had a group of kids who did attend until age 21, and they were always the stars of our commencement. No matter what they had been dealt in life, they were celebrating what they had done. Another thought, too, is that a commencement ceremony is to celebrate the beginning of what is to come, not only to celebrate what has been.

 

[cwinter474]

Thought I would post the "final" wording that my daughter, husband and I agreed on. -

 

[esavvymom]

Love it! Good for you. Sorry you've had to deal with people like that. But you've handled it with grace and style. Congrats.

 

[Shelly Flanagan]

Beautiful!!! God bless!

 

[minjoe_bri]

That is beauitful... Continued blessings to your family and Congratulatins to Kayla! bravo young lady!!!

 

[pampered1224]

It made me cry. I think it is so wonderful that there are parents like you two out there. Strength is another thing you will have passed to your daughter. I assume you have been fighting this battle all her life. Sad to think that there are still such geez, how to say this nicely, DUMBA$*#* out there!

 

[cwinter474]

Thanks to you all, it's been a long 21yrs and many more to go, God willing!

@John, ya know I so wanted to add something very simular to what I am sure you were thinking into the annoucement, But.... It just wouldn't work

What is the most fustrating thing to me, there are 5 special education teachers, that have gotten their degrees in the last 6yrs in the immediate family, and NO ONE has every offered me a word of support, or encourgement. Not a one.

I appreciate each and everyone of you!!!