Would YOU have gone?...................

Let me start off by saying that this will probably be a strange, rambling post. I'm not sure what I'm trying to accomplish by sharing this, maybe just some clarity or advice from BTDT moms.My Ryan will be 10 in May. He's my first child, so I've never done "this" before him, Down Syndrome or not.

The other day, a notice was sent home from school that they will be conducting a "Maturation Program" for his class (for most of his day, he's in a special ed class with the majority of kids having DS, but that's a whole 'nother post!) Anyway, this "Maturation Program" includes the presentation of a video - Always Changing, Always Growing - for boys, and of course one for girls. You have to sign a permission slip to allow your child to view it. Parents were invited to attend a preview of this video, I guess to determine if you think your child is ready for this sort of information.

I thought it would be a good idea for either Mark or I to see it, to see how they broach the subject, so that we could be on the same page when we talk to Ryan about this at home. I begged Mark to go, thinking that, of course, all of the other boys fathers would be there, and I didn't want to be the only woman watching a video about boys growing bodies in a room full of men. (yes, sometimes I can be really immature! LOL)

Mark was unable to take the time off from work, but also assured me that he thought ALL of the other mothers of kids with DS in his class would be there for the same reason that I felt it was so important to go. So off I went this morning.

I got there, I signed in, and went to the room I was told it was being shown in. There was no one else there. I waited and nobody else came. I finally went to the nurses office and she was happy to see me. She said she had been waiting in the room and couldn't believe no one showed (I was about 5 minutes late, so she had gone back to her office.) I was SHOCKED that no one else attended.

So, the nurse and I watched this video together. It was really ok, kids talking about personal hygiene, deodorant, pimples and such. Then she got called away right at the "good part"! LOL I'm not going to type the words because this little blog of mine will be hit by every porn web search, but they did have pictures (hand drawn B&W diagrams) showing growth, excitement, and what happens at the end of that excitement! They used all the correct terminology and it was educational! ;)

When it ended, I told her, "I'm not sure if Ryan is ready for this yet,.......as a matter of fact, I'm not sure I was ready for this yet!" We shared a laugh and then I asked her if all of the other boys in Ryan's class were going to view it. She said she didn't know until she got back all of the signed forms. She did say that this video is the one that they show to "typical" 5th graders. (Ryan would technically be in fourth grade this year)

So, a few questions for you all.........
1) Would you have gone to preview it? Was I nuts? I thought all the parents would be there.
2) Any moms reading this with older boys with DS? What did you do?
3) Would you allow your child with DS to view it at school, or prefer to talk about this at home?
4) Should I just tell them that he should skip it this year, but will be ready for it next year?
5) I appreciate any input/information/shared stories regarding this topic, even ladies with newborn sons, how would YOU react?

I'm so confused............this parenting stuff is HARD! (no pun intended! LOL) See, I warned you all that I was immature! ;)