The short bus

My little girl started developmental preschool. She takes the little bus. The bus stops at the top of our driveway and she happily climbs on to go to school.

I have my misgivings about school. I like her teachers, I like the care and respect everyone has for us, but I wish she had peer models.

I dropped her off at school once this year and left very upset.

First, I watched as all the big buses came. The kids came pouring out the doors of the buses onto the playground. We were trying to get Anna to her class and were turned away at the door because they weren't ready for her. I asked if she should go to the play ground and I was told, "no!"

We were told to wait by the bus drop off, so we walked back to the front of the school and watched the kids run past us to the play ground. After all the big buses emptied and left, the short buses pulled up. It was like a dance, one group left and the next group came on stage. However, none of the kids got off. They sat on the bus and waited for the helpers. Then the kids were escorted off to their separate classes.

It took everything I had not to start crying for my little girl right there.

My little girl, who I had been asking to be around typical kids missed another opportunity. I didn't see one child get off the short bus and head to the play ground with the other kids. Not even the older kids who were the same age as the elementary school kids on the play ground.

I think about my big kids who asked me where the kids with Down Syndrome are in their school. How can they not think something is wrong with Anna if she's not allowed in the classes with other kids.

I think about Anna and how much she learns being around typical kids. She learned to climb at the day care. She started potty training because the other kids were doing it at the day care.

To be included and loved, that's what we want for our kids, not separated from the rest of the world like there is something wrong with them.

This is Anna. She is perfect just the way she is.