Person 1: Congratulations! How far along are you?
Person 2: Oh, about 7 months, now.
Person 1: You must be so excited. Do you know what it is yet?
Person 2: No. We decided not to find out. As long as it has 10 fingers and 10 toes we'll be happy.
Person 1: Amen!
Does anyone else find this sentiment to be more than a little unnerving. Good health is often a blessing or a stroke of luck. Like any other advantage, it is also the source of prejudice and persecution. If your baby isn't a picture of perfection, what then? Will you love him less? Will you deny him the promises you made before his birth? If the color, creed or race of our child no longer matters, why does his capability?
As the older brother of a learning disabled girl, I've seen first-hand the difficulties in raising a special needs child. The demands are numerous and tolling. If given the opportunity I, and hopefully her parents, wouldn't change a thing about her.
The cynical part of me also suspects that a parent's worries are not solely of the wellness of the baby, but instead of the life-changing consequences of having a special needs child. I'm disturbed of the notion that a parent can resent a child, due to illogical fears and shame. Hopefully I'm wrong about this.
On that note, props to Target.
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