This entry is from Linc's dad, Sam.
The legendary Buddy Walk was this past Sunday. Mary and Larry (Grandmother and Grandpa)were in town for it, and Wendi brought Lily and Barron. I'm not sure what I expected from the event, but what I got was amazing. 3,ooo people showed up in the middle of nowhere to support people with Down Syndrome! Families and friends and people with DS of all ages running around in the Texas Hill Country just enjoying everyone else's company.
The day that Lincoln was born, we heard about the Buddy Walk, and pledged as a family to go the next year. Needless to say, this event has been built up in our minds. I was not let down. I was not too surprised by most of it; the petting zoo, the free food, live music, giant log fort/obstacle course, the rescue hellicopter you could crawl right in, the paddle boats. What did surprise me was the kids. Not the kids with DS, but the volunteers.
When the walk started we all crammed through a small archway and were greeted by a phalanx of high school cheerleaders encouraging us all on with pom-poms and giant smiles. When we finished, there they all were again with even more kid-volunteers celebrating our arrival and handing out ribbons, stickers, and hugs. I have to say.. they made me feel like I had accomplished something great and important.
High schoolers!
This is the demographic that worries the most when I think about Linc's future. We all got tortured back in high school; trust me, even the coolest person you've ever met had their fair share of awkward moments in high school. Its a tough, difficult time for everyone. But I get terrified thinking of how Lincoln will deal with it. What's going to be said behind his back in the halls? What's going to be said to his face? How will he be able to handle it?
Those kids at the Buddy Walk gave me hope that maybe the kids at Lincoln's future schools will actually be compassionate, accepting, and maybe even encouraging. Now I have hope that maybe his family won't be the only people in his life who are cheering him on.
1 comment:
Sam - I teach 7th and 8th grade, probably the worst years for any kid socially. I have a choir class with 30 "regular" ed kids and 12 kids with various disabilities including 3 with DS. Each day I am encouraged by the compassion and generosity of all of the kids. One girl with DS helps her friend who is blind find her seat. Another "regular" girl helps the student who sits next to her find (with DS and dwarfism) find the right page in the songbook. They do this daily, without even thinking it seems. It's true kids are cruel, but I just wanted to share how sometimes they teach me about kindness and selflessness. There is hope!
Post a Comment