I've heard some of Kayla's similarly-aged peers with Down syndrome express their hopes, dreams, and desires for their future ... but Kayla rarely does this. I think, for her, the future is such an abstract concept.
I have talked to her before ... mentioning getting married (she always, adamantly exclaims NO!), or going to college, but I think this is something we're going to have to keep discussing for her to grasp it; for her to realize she has a say in her future. She will be 13 this summer and I want her to realize her adult life doesn't have to be spent with her parents - although some people might tell me, "well there you go, she is telling you exactly where she sees her future!"
So we were sitting on her bed, about to read a book together, when I broached the subject of her future once again.
Most of the conversation went like this,
"Kayla where do you want to live when you're an adult?"
"I live at home!"
"But when you're an adult where do you want to live?"
"I'm not an adult, I'll be 13 on my birthday, I'll be a teenager."
"Yes you're going to be 13 on your next birthday ... but you will eventually be an adult. Do you want to have your own place?"
"No! I live with you and dad and Lucas!"
"But don't you want to move out and live on your own?"
"No! I want to live here forever!"
Ok different topic:
"Do you want to go to college?"
"No! I'll be in 7th grade, I'm in junior high!"
"But then you'll be in 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade. And when you're finished high school you can go to college."
"I don't want to!"
Ok.
"What about a job? Where do you want to work?"
I don't think she really had an answer for this one. There was some more back and forth about what she might be interested in, what she might want to do when she is an adult ... but nothing with assurance.
She kept trying to change the subject by asking if we could go to Dairy Queen. I kept telling her no we weren't going to DQ right then. Back and forth we went, "I like DQ." "After dinner we go to DQ and get ice cream?" Around and around we went.
Finally she told me, "Just read now." She was clearly done with the conversation.
I told her, "Ok. We can read now."
But I had to get in one last word by telling her, "I just wanted to talk with you about your future you know. I just wanted to talk about where you might want to live, what kind of job you might want to have."
Kayla responded with, "I want to work at Dairy Queen! I get a job at Dairy Queen, that's where I will work!"
I guess she had the last word after all.
Well played Kayla, well played!
6 comments:
She loves her life, she loves her family!
Ha ha I was the same way at 13! I wasn't going to get married or work. I was going to live at home forever. Of course that changed when I met my eventual husband at 16!
Sounds like she's still too young to think that far ahead. You're right when you say you'll have to approach the subject again and again over the coming years. I'm sure her answers will change as she gets older!
Well played, indeed, Kayla
I think this is where she becomes the typical kid. I think the future is so abstract for any 12 year old. I know that having Down Syndrome adds another complicated layer to the discussion. But I was nodding my head as I read this because a recent conversation with Abby went so very similar. I remember being 12 and being too old to play with dolls but feeling I was too young to be as responsible as my parents thought I should be.
I think so much is changing in their bodies at 12 that even thinking of high school is too far out of their realm of reality.
But I agree, we have to keep broaching the subject with them.
I remember asking Evan around age 11 or 12 if he had any ideas of what he wanted to do as an adult. He stared me in the eye and reminded me that he was only a kid, and had plenty of time to think about adult things later.
Touche', my son.
Concindentally, This week's Finish the Sentance Friday prompt is ""I thought that by this time in life, I'd..." I wonder what you were thinking at 12? How does that compare to where you are? And, most importantly, what does it matter?
You should join in and let us know how these two posts relate.
(PS, I'm always giving homework to people I like. It's a thing.)
Kristi is host at Kristi of http://www.findingninee.com
On this - I can't help but feel that Kayla is trying to teach you to live in the present.
I'm a pot calling the kettle black, as they say, but it seems like a good lesson to keep trying to learn.
<3 - Ms
Post a Comment