Monday, February 18, 2013

Mama Hop Monday - Volume 6


 
Question:
I think my family is being called to adopt a child with Down Syndrome from somewhere in Eastern Europe, where they are not appreciated or respected at all. We have no experience with adoption or special needs children, any advice?
-Anonymous
 
Answer:
Anonymous:  Yes, special needs children are not treated so well in other places and I admire your consideration of adoption. Like all children, special ones require love, care and patience. Parents often have to be more pro-active. I know people who adopted Russian orphans, but that cannot be done now. They said it was difficult. My cousin has worked with an Eastern European orphanage and I questioned her about this, but have not heard back yet. When I do, I will have Elizabeth include the information in her blog.
-Mama Hop
 
Question:
I am so excited! Mondays are now my favorite day of the week. I thought of another question, although I commented questions before as well.  Mama Hop- which terminology do you and your family prefer- Down syndrome? Down's? Does the term "Down's" bother you? I know the vernacular has changed over the years and you have over 30 years of experience here. What's your take on it?
- goldenleaves
 
Answer:
Golden leaves: Thank you. Glad you like this part of the blog. Regarding terminology, "Downs" does not bother me considering Leanne's first pediatrician called her a "Mongoloid".   He did not last long. At the same time, Leanne does not want to hear the "Downs" distinction made.   My take is that much political correctness has gone overboard.
-Mama Hop
 
Question:
On the lighter side, I'm interested in Mama Hop's beauty secrets.
-Lena
 
Me too! She's gorgeous.
-Amanda in CA
 
Answer:
Lena and Amanda: Thank you, thank you! You and others humble me. Weeks ago, Elizabeth told me to fess up. Okay, I wear nothing but the best make-up from Walgreen's, AKA Maybelline mascara, shadow, and liner. Cover Girl powder on my nose unless I am going out, then slap more on the rest of my face. I do hydrate: coffee, water and pinot grigio of course. Take care ladies.
- Mama Hop
 

5 comments:

  1. Hello! I just wanted to mention that my sister and her husband adopted a young girl with Downs Syndrome from Bulgaria and their experience on a whole was great! They, in turn, have friends who have adopted several children with special needs from Bulgaria, and I believe it was from the same orphanage. Just wanted to throw that out there :) My sister's blog: http://www.afamilybecominghuman.blogspot.ca/

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  2. I have no personal experience with international adoption but I have friends who have recently adopted from Lithuania, Bulgaria, and Ukraine. All have had great experiences. The children adopted ranged from 2-6 when adopted. There is a ton of information on Reece's Rainbow. www.reecesrainbow.org

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  3. Thanks Mama Hop for giving your thoughts on terminology and political correctness. I guess this is more of a question for Aunt Leanne - I'm wondering how Leanne herself refers to Down Syndrome and how Leanne would educate people / talk about / describe it?

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  4. I really like Margaux Winkler's question and agree, Leanne is an adult, what's her take on the "political correctness" of Down's vs. Down? Mama Hop mentions that Leanne doesn't want to hear "Down's" but does that mean that she just doesn't care to be labeled with the Down syndrome diagnosis or the actual pluralized word of Down's?

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  5. We adopted our two from Ukraine and found out about them through Reece's Rainbow. Our little girl was 12 months when we brought her home, and our little boy was 10months old. They both have Down syndrome. When we met them we were a little worried. We had no experience raising a child with Down syndrome and they were very very delayed. Our little boy could not even hold his head up when we first met him and they did not believe in tummy time because they feel like it is not sanitary to put a child on the floor so our little girl could not even sit up. Now they have been home almost 7 months, they are both sitting up, crawling, and our little girl is cruising all over the house holding onto furniture. :) They are such a blessing!

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