Corinne
Sous Chef
A fellow employee at the bank has a 19 year old son with Down Syndrome. His name is Tom. Tom works at the bank 5 days a week for a couple hours during the summer & a couple days a week during the school year. He goes around to the different departments & collects Inter-Office mail in his cart, then takes it up to the mail room. He can't handle anything too complicated. His mom says that his intelligence is around the level of a 4 or 5 year old. But sometimes he comes out with things that are way beyond something a 5 year old would say. 
Anyway, I love this child. I feel motherly towards him. He's my buddy & I really look forward to seeing him on the days he works. It's the high point of my day. We have some pretty silly conversations because I can easily revert to being 5 years old.
When I took the job at the nursing home I told him about it right away. His memory isn't real good so I wanted to start getting him used to the idea. I mentioned it while his "job coach" was there so he could be reminded, if need be. When I told him he said something like: "I'm happy but I'll be very sad."
I saw him today & told him that I didn't know when I would see him again after tomorrow. He remembered & knew that I was going to work at a "Senior Home". Then I told him that I was really going to miss him. He replied with this: "Of course, I will miss you. I *love* you." That totally made my day. Made me smile & nearly brought me to tears. I love him, too!
I didn't ask him if he was going to miss me because when I took a week's vacation a couple months ago I told him that I would miss him while I was gone & asked if he would miss me, too. He said, "Keep dreaming!" with a devilish grin! I guess he realizes that it's more serious this time.
Anyway, I love this child. I feel motherly towards him. He's my buddy & I really look forward to seeing him on the days he works. It's the high point of my day. We have some pretty silly conversations because I can easily revert to being 5 years old.
When I took the job at the nursing home I told him about it right away. His memory isn't real good so I wanted to start getting him used to the idea. I mentioned it while his "job coach" was there so he could be reminded, if need be. When I told him he said something like: "I'm happy but I'll be very sad."
I saw him today & told him that I didn't know when I would see him again after tomorrow. He remembered & knew that I was going to work at a "Senior Home". Then I told him that I was really going to miss him. He replied with this: "Of course, I will miss you. I *love* you." That totally made my day. Made me smile & nearly brought me to tears. I love him, too!
I didn't ask him if he was going to miss me because when I took a week's vacation a couple months ago I told him that I would miss him while I was gone & asked if he would miss me, too. He said, "Keep dreaming!" with a devilish grin! I guess he realizes that it's more serious this time.
