It was a family affair. My family of five plus my in-laws went garage sale shopping. We found top notch walkie-talkies for $2, four Nintendo DS games for $10, an almost new set of Chaps suitcases for only $35, and many other great deals. And then there was the Mickey Mouse.
My youngest daughter has Down syndrome, and she happens to love Mickey Mouse. She was wearing a Minnie Mouse shirt that day, and Minnie Mouse shoes. Imagine her excitement when her big sister said, “Nichole, look! Mickey!”
In a basket, waiting to be loved, we found a Mickey Mouse.
Nichole picked up the mouse, hugged it tight.
“Do you like that Mickey sweetheart?” I asked.
“Yeth!” She said, hugging the toy a little tighter, smiling.
“How much do you want for the Mickey Mouse?” I asked the owner, who was smiling watching Nichole
“Well, let me go ask.”
She rounded the corner to go talk to her sister (they looked alike, I assume it was her sister).
“The cutest little girl with Down syndrome loves your Mickey Mouse.” She said, “She is wondering how much you want for it.”
The sister came to meet us, and asked Nichole, “Are you the little girl that loves my Mickey?”
“Yeth.” Nichole said.
“Mickey told me this morning that he was waiting for a very special girl to come and take him home.”
Then she put her hands around Nichole’s face and kissed the top of her head.
Nichole paid her back with a shy smile, and a “tenk-you.”
Then Nichole found a pink Mickey Mouse watch and showed it to her.
“Yes, you can have that too!”
Such a rascal!
I didn’t get to ask the woman what her connection was to Down syndrome, but that interaction (the way both sisters reacted to Nichole), makes me wonder if they had a personal connection. Perhaps they had a sibling with Down syndrome? Or an aunt? An uncle? They grew up with a neighbor who had Down syndrome?
Sometimes people stare at my daughter because she has Down syndrome, sometimes I can tell by the way they look at her that they feel pity, but not this time, and not this woman and her sister. There was a genuine appreciation of my daughter because of her extra chromosome, like they knew what a blessing she is to our family and everyone else around her.
Back in the car, Nichole held her Mickey Mouse close, and they have been buddies ever since.
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What a wonderful story! Perspective and relationship are everything! You do have to have been there and done that to “get it”! What a gift for your heart – a special hug from God!
Thanks Ann!
Ellen, I got chills reading this! What a beautiful experience Nichole had at the garage sale.
One of those you never forget!
We have those moments, too and still to this day. They are lovely.
Sometimes, it feels like we’re all in on a really cool secret.
Maybe we are.
🙂
We are! 🙂
My cousin has Down syndrome ….he is in his early 40s and is a star in our home town and God’s gift to us…..I stare because I love people with Down syndrome and I think we are all a special gift..thank you for sharing your story….
Loved this!
Ellen, this post was short and sweet. I was expecting more by the time I got to the end, but I realized quickly that there was no need for more explanation. The tears in my eyes told me so. I was afraid from the title that it might be a negative interaction and was so happy to read the blessing that it ended up being. I imagined the ginormous smile on your face and the warmth in your heart as you watched that woman kiss your daughter. I imagined the sigh of peace as you drove away from that garage sale. I know that feeling. And it makes me so happy to hear of this experience. How beautiful. Thank you for sharing!
We will always remember this for sure!
I try really (really!) hard not to stare when I see someone with Down Syndrome. However, the truth is, I’m just drawn to them. From an early age, I had a best friend that had Down Syndrome. I was forced to move when I was 12, and I haven’t seen her since. I’m nearly 30 and I still think of my best friend every day. When I see someone that has DS, I don’t pity them. I find them the most joyful in the world. Their eyes have a sparkle to them, their world is just so different and I’m amazed. When I do catch myself staring, I want to tell the parents that I’m not staring to be a jerk, I’m staring because I’m in awe of how amazing their child is… but I never find the words. I don’t want them to think I’m a freak, and I don’t want them to think I’m staring to be rude.
So, I just try harder not to stare, and I teach my girls the same – but in our family, we are all drawn to those that are different than we are, so it’s a learning process for each and every one of us. I know that sometimes people will be rude, or will be staring with less than positive intentions, but I’d like to think that most of us are staring because of your child’s pure beauty and joy that we can see radiates inside and out.