My daughter has worked for a grocery store for 18 yrs & lived through the process of whispered “what’s the matte with…” and intense nearly crosseyed looks. But she has been continuously employed for 18 yrs. All work is honorable. So I know that weighing a soul’s worth has nothing to do with it. My kiddo is also talented-HFA has marked her life but she has other means of expressing her personal best.

You reflect on society-having a child who is drawn outside the lines of normal, will change you and Annabelle as well. It will make you deeper and give you and the folks around you a run for their money so to speak.

And remember on the bell curve of intellect-bright folks are as much and oddity as those of lower cognitive ability. We call ‘em ‘sports’-really, anything too far from normal.

I’ve told my daughter something to rmember: Different people make all the difference in the world. Truth out.

i think “thriving,” for all of us, has a lot of different definitions. i’m uncomfortable with there appearing to be just ONE option for sophie — bagging groceries. (i did see a woman with DS picking up trash on campus at ASU years ago.)

we should all have lots of options. but of course lots of circumstances limit all of us from making those options endless. and that’s not always a bad thing. just a tough one to understand when you are 10, and sometimes tough to be reminded of when you are almost 45.

Thank goodness for our children who thrive like your precious Annabelle.

My adult child with DS may not be thriving; I attribute this to post-divorce sequelae.

Pre-divorce, we had a plan for his independent living; today he still lives with “at home”. Not sure why, but it will never be open for discussion (without attorneys). I will always have a grey cloud in my soul about all this.

My response-thought is that healthy homes, including single parent homes, are among the best gifts we can provide for our children to thrive; hooray for you and others for whom life has allowed this.

Best wishes to all.