Her name is Ace, and she just doesn't understand. People think her brother Archie is different. But Archie isn't different to Ace. He's just another little kid.
But to the rest of the world, Archie is a kid who was orphaned in his native Bulgaria because he had down syndrome. He was adopted by an American family, and along with Ace he's star of a video that I -- a jaded old mom blogger who has seen thousands of viral videos over the years -- can't get out of my head. Just watch!
Watching these two adorable siblings this morning on a friend's Facebook page, I couldn't help seeing my 6-year-old on the playground in the back of my mind. I always marvel when I take her out there. I watch her walk up to kids who are perfect strangers. They exchange names, and suddenly, they're friends, ready to take on the world. At this age, kids are just kids. There is no color. No gender. There are no "problems."
And then they go to school. And they meet kids who weren't raised by parents like me (and my husband), parents who don't teach their kids the everyone is equal and everyone deserves respect and everyone has value. Someone tells them different is bad ... and we wonder why we have bullies and wars and division in America?
We wouldn't. Not if kids stayed like Ace. Not if we still walked up to strangers on the playground and said "hey, you are cool, I am cool, let's be friends." Not if everyone believed like Ace does ... that kids like Archie are "just like any other kid." They aren't different. They just are.
What have you told your kids about kids who are "different"?
Image via eicherumba/YouTube
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Comments 28
Down syndrome children ARE different. We need to accept that because pretending we're all equal is more harmful than helpful. She doesn't think he's different because she's grown up with him and she's still a little girl. Someday she'll realize her brother is different, and that's okay!
My 4 year old son is "different". He has autism. He can't talk, so it's pretty obvious. I also have a 2 year old daughter who loves her big brother. I don't think I will have to teach her anything, she has never known anything differently. I didn't watch the video, so I don't know how they are exploiting these children. All I know as a mom with a son with autism and a daughter who is typical, I am going to have a hard time balancing the two. I don't want my daughter to feel left out nor do I want her to feel like she always has to be there to pick up any extra weight. It is scary. Not all parents are perfect. You don't know unless you are a parent of a different needs child... not even if you are a sibling of one.
This video made me cry,. it was wonderful!
My dad's best friend has a sister with developmental disabilities (damage from having oxygen cut off for too long by the umbilical chord around her neck and then contracting scarlette feaver in the NICU.) I grew up around her and didn't really think anything of her being "different" she was fun, kind and really a great friend nomatter how old I got. They struggled to help her develop and she actually graduated with a regular high school diploma and has had a job as a gardener since she was 15. (The woman grows amazing veggies!) Her brother once told me he was happy he had her as a sister because she's "tougher than any brother, more fun the anybody else's sister and my best friend." I hope these sibs keep a strong relationship.