it happened...

on tuesday, i was at a doctors appointment, for myself actually, but brought along the little man because he has a runny, stuffy nose and i didn't want to inflict a cold upon any potential sitters. camden and i sat patiently in the waiting room and we were soon joined by a vibrant older woman who started a conversation about how ridiculously cold it is in utah right now, and of course i had to agree, being that it was fifteen degrees outside. she had an accent, it sounded european of some sort...i couldn't quite place it. she was oodeling over camden for a little while. we spoke of how tiny he was and that she had a granddaughter that was also very tiny, and she cooed and got him to smile a great big grin...and after a couple of minutes of exclaiming how adorable he was...she asked..."does he have down syndrome?"

i have thought of this moment for a while now...every time a stranger asked to see my little guy i waited for this question...i wondered if it would sting, i wondered how i would respond, i wondered if i would cry.

but i surprised myself...i smiled, and answered: "yes, yes he does!" and then i waited for the sting...but it never came.

and then something more surprising happened...this vibrant woman sitting next to me, who i had only known for maybe five minutes, began to cry. they were silent tears, and as she wiped them away she looked at me and said " i have such a special place in my heart for these little kids, i know they were sent here to teach us how to love".

i didn't quite know what to do, or how to respond, so i just listened...and she went on to explain that her very good friend had a boy with down syndrome, who was now in his thirties, and how special he was, and her many other encounters.

she was then called back by the doctor, and i was left in the waiting room alone, with my little boy. and i waited for the emotions to come, and i wondered which would join me in that room...i didn't feel anger, i didn't feel sadness, i didn't feel jealousy...i felt blessed.