Today I read over at Wetpaint.com that Glee is welcoming a character with Down syndrome:
Glee Season 4 Spoilers: Sue Sylvester’s Pregnancy Game-Changer
If you click the link, you can see that they changed the title on that article from, “Glee Season 4 Spoilers: Heartbreaking Updates About Sue Sylvester’s New Baby.”
This has got me really pissed off, and possibly not for the reasons you think. So wait, I’m going to be clear: it’s shocking and difficult to be told that the perfect baby you’ve waited 9 months for has a disability. Really, it’s true.
BUT BUT BUT…
Perhaps the reason that’s true is because we call this nonsense “heartbreaking”! If there had been ONE person who could have said, “Congratulations! Your baby girl has Down syndrome, get READY for the ride of your life!” perhaps I would not have wasted 8 months lonely, depressed, and kicking God’s ass.
Amelia is…well, let me just tell you the feedback I get EVERY YEAR from each and every one of her teachers at 7 Gen: “She always makes me laugh!” “She keeps me in stitches.” “When I’m having a bad, I go look for Amelia, because she always makes me smile.”
Heartbreaking?? nope. Not a bit, nothing but joy and sunshine…and lots of so-called typical kid traits, too, like attitude and boy crushes.
Sadly the editors at WetPaint wrote a crappy, sensationalist bit of stereotype that is outdated and totally NOT what Glee is all about, nor reflective of the experience of families who have a beloved member with Down syndrome. Take that, tabloid!
UPDATE! I complained and they COMPLETELY edited the article, and now it reads nicely 🙂 Power to the people, my friends, you have it when you Speak Up!
Sandy Balon says
I had a high risk pregnancy (my 4th with only one living child so far) and after an early C-section I hemmoraged. I was unable to go to the neo-natal and a few days later a Dr came in and asked what I thought of my daughter?? What I had seen of her she could have been a twin to my other daughter. He left saying they were doing tests, the nurse in my room was as shocked as I. In the afternoon I finally learned what they were looking for, Downs. After half a day with fear I would never get my daughter home alive this was a relief and joy. I had as a teen visited my Aunt who ran a home for disabled and I would help out, I knew Downs was nothing to fear as many still do. Aside from my Aunt being a great believer and supporter of disable having and being in a ‘normal’ home life (environment) and the amazing Dr she had come to our side we knew we’d have our baby home and we maintained raising our girls the same. Tawnya learned to down hill sk i at 4 just like her sister did…. somethings do take more time and Tawnya has her ups and downs but don’t we all??
When I am down Tawnya knows and just puts a hand of comfort on my shoulder, she has an uncanny sense.
Where ever she goes she just fits in 🙂
I agree tabloids should think before writing!!!
Glad you spoke up,
Sandy