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Your Reply: See Forum Rules (above) for more information about what codes you are allowed to use in your posts.	[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Angela Young [/i] [B]I didn't care for this movie at all!!! I sure hope that anyone who did watch it isn't misled or influenced by its content. Very little of it relates to today...thank God. I was doing all right until the mother was dressing/undressing Brenda Kay on top of a dresser when the child was a teenager. Oh pleasssssse... . Sure hope a really good movie comes out portraying a DS baby from todays society. Angela and Kyley (DS)13 months. [/B][/QUOTE]
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Topic Review (Newest First)
Aimee Edwards	We have to remember that this story took place in the 40's. Back then families received no encouragment or help to keep there child with DS. With all the negativity being told your child wont learn, walk, or talk, and most likly wont live past 2, and they still refused to institutionalized their child. I'm am greatful to people like this, if it wasn't for them our children wouldn't be were they are now. Look at all the support we get now, with early intervention, doctors, and friends and family. Can you imagine not having any of this and still raise your child. They have paved the way for acceptance, education and numerous laws. I know some of you feel like we shouldn't have to keep proving how capable our children are, but look how different things are 55 years later, think how much farther we will be 55 years from now. I think people watching realize this was years ago, and that things have changed. I'm sure most of the people watching this movie have seen Chris Burke acting in Life Goes On, or something else.
BlessedbyHim	I too was very impressed by the actors and was proud for them, although I would love to see them portrayed in their full potential as well. I was very glad that Cathedral (?) kept telling Jewell that God was trying to bless her through Brenda Kay - not punish her. Being a new mom, my son is 4 months old, this movie so vividly expressed many feelings that we've exprienced already in our journey. My husband and I have said the very same words, "I miss you so much" in our effort to keep our relationship close during this time. I feel I too could be a "Jewell" - having very good intentions for my family, but letting things get out of balance because of the DS. I'd be interested in starting a post regarding how others attempt to keep this balance in their families. How do you go about giving your other children what they need and help them to feel special too? How do you keep your marriage healthy and strong when you're exhausted and stressed by the issues DS brings? How do you set boundaries on the time required for your DS child - therapies, teaching, doctor's appointments, etc.? We're very blessed indeed and wouldn't trade our situation for anything. We've said from the beginning that our son will teach us far more than we will ever be able to teach him. I'm grateful for all the resources we have today for our children and ourselves.
vonda	All in all I liked the movie. I loved the way that Jewell LOVED her daughter and couldn't get enough of her, like I am with my son Noah. I didn't like the fact that all of the children in this movie with Ds seemed "severe", but as my husband said it was in the 40's and they didn't have any early intervention and back then most of them DIDN'T walk or talk until they were much older than today. The other thing that kept going through my mind during the entire movie was that a lot of my friends whom I haven't seen in years know that I have a baby with Ds, and have never met him yet. My concern was that they were probably all sitting at home watching this movie and thinking to themselves "oh my God is THAT what Noah is like" and "oh I feel so SORRY for them". I HOPE this isn't the case, but it's how I felt. I just want the world to know that Ds is NOT like that now and although I have only met a handful of children with Ds personally since Noah has been born, none of them were like the children portrayed in the movie. Sure they all are a bit delayed, but are all walking and talking and doing everything else that any child does at their age. We are very fortunate that there are so many opportunities in this day and age for OUR children and all the children with Ds to come!!! Vonda
Ingrid	Hi, I liked the book a lot better than the movie, simply because they can't put as much detail into a two-hour-movie as they can into a book. I liked the storyline about how the Mom was so wrapped up in Brenda Kay. I saw myself in that a lot and I am guilty of that sometimes. I cried a few times during the movie, but especially when the Dad said to the Mom:"Brenda Kay is like a bird with a broken wing and you have spent so much time caring for her that it never occurred to you that she might be able to fly." I am SO guilty of that sometimes, always doing things for Erik which I know he can do by himself. So, this movie helped me see that a little. I thought the actress who played Brenda Kay did a fantastic job, by the way!! I think what everyone has to realize is that in those days not much was done to challenge children with Ds. They were mostly institutionalized , because of the common belief that they couldn't learn. Good thing our kids live in this day and age, where we know better, isn't it?? [Edited by Ingrid on 02-08-2001 at 09:14 PM]
Tom	The actress who played Brenda Kay did a great job. And that is really the point isn't it? Can anyone imagine Brenda Kay being able to act in a movie? What constantly amazes me about the actors and actresses who have Down syndrome is that most of the parts they get require them to act less capable than they are in real life. I would love to see a movie that allows one of these talented people to show just how capable they really are!
Cindy	Having both read the book.....and now seeing the movie, I haven't been too impressed! In a way it flaunted the 'stigmatism' of Downs that people have in their minds. I truly CANNOT imagine that at the age of 16, I'll still have to be giving Kortney a bath, putting on her sweater, etc. Of course, there are parents out there....even those of 'normal' kids who do these kinds of things! I am just grateful that my daughter was born in this 'day and age'. I think the hardest part for me was the ending (which was a little different than the book). In the same sense, it's giving up that control. For years and years 'you' have control over the doctors, schools, who and what your child will do, then to think about your child going on without you....It's scary!! (as with any child) Truth be told, our kids may want to live out on their own (and rightfully so) but at this point, it does scare me! I can't deny those feelings. I just hope that by the time it comes, I'm better prepared to 'cope'! I too hope this movie didn't give people a 'false' sense of what DS is all about! A friend of mine called me this morning and asked if I had seen it. She said that she started to call me.....then when she was what 'decade' it was set in, she decided not to. She watched it and thought it in no way portrayed the life that Kortney leads today! People who 'know' will realize that this movie was focused more on the mother and her control of things than the DS itself. Rambled on long enough!!! Sorry!!! Three steps forward...two back!!! Cindy
Angela Young	I didn't care for this movie at all!!! I sure hope that anyone who did watch it isn't misled or influenced by its content. Very little of it relates to today...thank God. I was doing all right until the mother was dressing/undressing Brenda Kay on top of a dresser when the child was a teenager. Oh pleasssssse... . Sure hope a really good movie comes out portraying a DS baby from todays society. Angela and Kyley (DS)13 months.
Ruth Murphy	Man! Did I use the kleenex during this movie! I really lost it at the end when they had to put "Brenda Kay" in a home when she was older in order to lessen her dependence on her mom... Whew! But, just think how blessed we are to have our children in this age and time when medicine has advanced so much and we are able to "fix" many things with our kids. Back then, they couldn't. And with the therapies, the progress is usually sooner. My Hannah walked on her own just before she turned three. And her speech is so much better now than the girl every achieved throughout the whole movie...I know it was hard to fight off depression after this movie, but have hope all...our "hardship" and our "test" doesn't have to be so hard, and we will all pass our "test". Love to all you magnificient parents! Ruth
Kathy Coleman	I agree with you, Dena. These children were nothing like the children I have met with Down Syndrome. This movie was set in the 1940's through the 60's and they didn't have early intervention or public school education for our kids then. Also, I've seen the actress who played the older Brenda Kay on other shows and she was much different. She's a very good actress. As far as the physical, most of the kids I've heard of usually started walking between 18 mos. and 2 years. My grandson, Jack is 1 year old now and he can sit up, stand up with support, patty cake and is getting stronger all the time. He gets around by rolling and scooting. I didn't like this movie. It was more about the mother. A movie about people with DS and all they accomplish would be much more inspiring and entertaining. Most people have a lot of incorrect assumptions about DS (I know I did before we had Jack) and this movie did nothing to change that. I'll get off my soapbox now.
dena	Well I watched it and it really depressed me. I know all children are different but it is really scary to think that Hunter may not walk till he is 4 etc. Plus, are the opptunities for down's children any different today? Sorry I'm so negative, I'm having a bad time after seeing the movie. Dena, Hunter 9mths
Momtofour	I wanted to watch it but will miss the begaining. I am taking a class in Italian, I might have to sneak out a little early since I can't program the VCR! Elizabeth
Kathy Coleman	FYI There is a movie coming on CBS tonight (Wed., Feb 7) called "Jewell" about a woman in the 1940's who has a daughter with Down Syndrome. It's based on a book by Brett Lott and stars Farrah Fawcett, Cicely Tyson, and Ashley Wolfe who plays the daughter.

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