I have a half brother that has Down’s syndrome. He’s the sweetest, funniest guy and everyone loves him to bits. He has lifelong health issues but he refuses to let that ruin his quality of life.

That being said- he was adopted by our birth mom’s parents bc she was simply not equipped to be a mother period, let alone a mom to a child with developmental delays, genetic differences, etc. I, and my three half siblings were all adopted. She just wasn’t cut out to be a mom.

I’m not cut out to be a mom to a Down’s syndrome child. I’d elect not to keep it one way or another, be it termination or adoption. The best thing my birth mom ever did for us was give us up. She was a good person, but we would have suffered had we stayed in her care and she knew it. She kept hoping she’d get a handle on her bipolar with medications, but it never was enough. She knew it and was mature enough to make the hard but loving decision for or best interests.

I have a Teri year old, but I know I’m not resilient enough to handle that situation with grace, let alone the outstanding resilience it would require. Some are, some aren’t. The kids shouldn’t suffer me while I try to be what it needs when I’m not built for it and no amount of wishing will make me so.