Saturday, August 6, 2011

*awkward conversation*

One of the grocery stores nearby does this wonderful thing called "Donut Day" on Fridays. It's basically an incentive to have people buy THEIR donuts because if you buy a dozen you get 6 free. Woohoo. Anyway, in case you didn't know I have 2 babies. So some stores are easier for me to just bring my stroller to (plus Curtis FAILED shopping carts- but that's another story) carry the boys around. So we walk up to the beautiful glass case where all the donuts are and start picking out our treats (don't worry- I freeze most of the donuts- I don't eat all 18 by myself) and we finally finish. The donut lady asks if we want to pay with her there and I say yes so we can just be on our way when, she finally LOOKS at the boys. The following conversation occurs:

Donut Lady (DL): OH! How cute! Are they twins?!

Me: No. This one *points to Curtis* will actually be 2 later this month. He does have Down syndrome though. He grows slower and so they are around the same size. This one *point to Clay* is only 6 months old.

DL: Oh NO! *gasps in shock or something- I don't know* Are you worried that your youngest one is going to catch it?

Me: ummmm. No. It's genetic.

DL: Oh. So the little one might not catch it until he's older then?

Me: ***looooong awkward pause while I stared at her*** ummmm. No. It's genetic. It's in his blood. There is no way the other one could "catch it".

DL: Oh. Ok. So did you pass it to him? Are your other children going to have it?

ME:***loooooooonger awkward pause*** Actually no. For women MY AGE, about every 1 in 750 births will result with the child having Down syndrome. It's a genetic fluke.

DL: hmmm. *looks thoughtful* Well here's your donuts! Have a good weekend!

Me: .....? Ok. Thanks.


Ba ha ha. I laughed really hard about this. Seriously. I know genetics don't make much sense sometimes, especially to those who don't visit an actual Geneticist Dr. twice a year but obviously this woman didn't pay attention in 8th grade science.

8 comments:

  1. Lol... I wonder if that lady is related to my father-in-law. When we first started telling him about Down syndrome, he'd be like "so will this autism cause him to not talk?" (I'm sure some people with autism have a problem with language, but Dylan has Down syndrome.) ....pause... "So what all will this autism affect?" *facepalm*

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  2. So, at least you know why she works in a donut shop....

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  3. i love your friend laura's comment:) ha ha- very true statement.

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  4. I will forever be amazed at people's ignorance of down syndrome. Even my husband asked if I could go on bed rest to help our baby's down syndrome to go away. ; )

    Jaime

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  5. hysterical! next time tell her to be careful just in case the plain donuts will "catch" the chocolate frosting if put too close together in the case.

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  6. ...good grief! You are a good sport, I probably would have said something ridiculously rude to her.

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  7. I don't know why some people are allowed to go out, let alone work in public. *smiles, shakes head*.

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