8 Major Misconceptions About Down’s Syndrome - From A Parent Who Had Them

6. Nothing Special

Something regrettably only learned the hard way for a parent of a child with Down's Syndrome is shaping how supportive family and friends care for you in the way you need, rather than the way they think is best.

It's important to remember that this unexpected development could be something they themselves are working out how to process, and may be unsure of how best to proceed. Luckily, what gradually and organically forms is a mutually beneficial relationship, where a shared kindness and understanding brings about a totally unique new support system, but this doesn't come without time or effort.

A huge misapprehension from most is that, in a well-intended effort to boost morale, your child is 'special', 'extra special', or a variation of the term. Empty positivity it may be, but there'll probably never be a time in your entire life where you'd give anything for your son or daughter to be as middle-of-the-road as possible.

'I wish I was special', sang Thom Yorke in Radiohead's seminal misanthropic masterpiece 'Creep', with his brooding undertones belying a feeling of deep sadness at his plight. The exact opposite is often the case with parents of a child with Down's Syndrome. Boring and/or unremarkable would warrant festival-like celebrations during the aforementioned period of grief, and even sometimes emerges during times of complete and sturdy acceptance. Gently advise the people that love you and your child of this, and you'll probably hear the lightbulb going on as they come to share that exact sentiment.

 
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Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 7 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 30 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz", Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 50,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett