Ren Allen

"Yet I grieve over the thought of
sending him "out" to school when the others stay home, over the
possibility of him losing the closeness with his siblings, being less
a part of what goes on here."

Listen to that voice that grieves, it is truth.
Your heart knows what is right, what I hear is other voices
influencing what YOU know is right. Your reasons for sending him to
school center around being accepted, but when does school ever help
someone feel MORE or better when they're already different?

I don't have a Down Syndrome child, but I have cared for Down's
babies and toddlers in the past, worked with an adult Down's young
adult and volunteered many times with children of various mental
disabilities.

What I saw in the Down Syndrome child I babysat regularly, was a
sweet, happy, lovely little girl that was surrounded by love....then
went to school and wasn't as happy.

If school is not the answer for your other children, why would it
somehow help a young person that has bigger challenges? Why would
strangers know how to help her better than you? What is all this
therapy that has you convinced you need experts to continue, rather
than stimulating this child yourself?

I realize Down's syndrome kids can be hugely challenging in
different ways. They are delayed in many areas, but that's WHO they
ARE. And we can honor who they are, right now today, by trusting in
natural learning...even for the child that has disabilities.

I'm no expert on Down's, but everything I've ever seen makes me
believe that they are MUCH better off at home, with people that
love them and surrounded by the kind of environment that allows them
to simply be who they are. If there is some kind of stimulation that
child needs, I believe with all my heart it can be found outside of
school.

Ren