[tri-med] Re: Platitudes you hate

>I just graduated from Indiana Wesleyan Univ. with my BSc in Nursing,
>if I may brag a bit :)

Congratulations Annee!

>Re: platitudes you hate (copy of Michelle's email below); having never
>experienced a trisomy child, what platitude would be appropriate for
>someone like me to say (if platitudes are acceptable at all). ie, what
>can/should I say to you? I hope that makes some sense!

Oh it makes sense, but I don't think there's a pat answer to it.  What
one parent would appreciate, another might take your head off for.  For
instance, USA Alex's mom absolutely hated having someone call her beautiful
son a "Funny Looking Kid", while I broke the ice with our doctors by asking,
"Are you trying to tell me she's an FLK?".  So I think the best advice that
I can give you, is to take your cue from the parents themselves.  Just
listen
to what they have to say about their child, and that should help you.  But
REALLY listen, don't project what you expect onto them, or you'll end up in
the role of our NNIC nurses. They were very surprised when we named our
daughter on day 2, because they were convinced that we hadn't named her
because we thought she was going to die, despite the fact that we'd told
them
it was because we were expecting a boy and hadn't chosen a girl's name, and
just needed some time to think of one we could live with...

Fawna, Research coordinator TRIS Project, mom
to Thom & Rhonda, Lara, & Philina 24yrs (PT6p
& Moya Moya Syndrome), Escondido, CA USA
http://home.mindspring.com/~fawna33/

                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

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