Christi,
My guess is that we're your peers, dear - LOL! If you could talk to your aquaintences about DS, then they would be your peers, too.
I'm not saying that they aren't your intellectual peers, I'm saying that they aren't your peers in willingness to be open-minded, and actually care about someone else's child independent of their own insecurities about their own child. I have met many Moms of Special Needs Kids and Neurotypical Kids who are completely supportive of my struggle to find a way to get DS10's needs met. I am very blessed.
Congradulations about growing that backbone! LOL, who says that bone growth peaks in the teen years!
Also kudos to your Mom - It's so wonderful to have family members who understand and stand up for you. Many of us have family members who "just don't see what the big deal is." ((shrug))
Enjoy - Enjoy - Enjoy! You have so many blessings in your life!
Trinity
