Your Daily Dish

Feeding Outrageous to you Daily

Hide Advertisement
  • Animals
    • Farm
    • Pets
    • Zoo
    • Wildlife
  • Family
    • Grandparents
    • Kids
    • Parents
  • Health
    • Exercise
    • Food
    • Medical
  • Humor
  • Lifestyle
    • News
    • Science & Tech
    • Travel
  • Videos
Site logo
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Mom Writes Open Letter to Parent Who Didn’t Invite Her Down Syndrome Son to Birthday Party

By Lauren Boudreau 2 min read
Advertisement - Continue reading below
Source: Facebook/Jennifer Kiss-Engele
Source: Facebook/Jennifer Kiss-Engele

When you’re a parent, it can be tough to watch your child not get invited to birthday parties. It’s even more difficult when you know the reason is about something neither of you control. Jennifer Kiss-Engele knows this heartache all too well. Her son Sawyer has Down syndrome and he was the only one in his class of 23 students not invited to a classmate’s birthday party.

On June 23, Engele wrote an open letter to the parent of the child who didn’t invite her son to their party.

Advertisement

“Hi there,” she begins. “I know we don’t know each other well but my son Sawyer and your child are in the same class. I understand that your child recently delivered birthday invitations to the entire class except to Sawyer, who was not invited. I also understand that this was not an oversight on your part, that it was an intentional decision to not to include my son.”

She goes on to say that she knows it’s not because Sawyer’s mean or doesn’t get along with the other child that he wasn’t invited, but because he has Down syndrome. She also states that she sees this as an opportunity to educate the parent and the rest of the world about what having Down syndrome means.

“You see, having Down Syndrome doesn’t mean that you don’t want to have friends. It doesn’t mean that you don’t have feelings. It doesn’t mean you don’t like to go to birthday parties. People with Down Syndrome want the same things that you and I want. They want to have close relationships, they want to feel love, they want to contribute, they want to have meaningful lives, and they want to go to birthday parties. It may be more difficult at times to understand my child. But the laughter and love that you share doesn’t need interpretation.”

The post went viral and has since been shared over 6,000 times and liked over 20,000 times (as of press time).

The post also reached the parent of the child having the party. In an update on the post, Engele writes that the parent talked to their child about inviting Sawyer and has since created a “special birthday invite” for him.

Engele concludes by saying she hopes her experience encourages other parents to talk to their children about those with special needs.

“I think as parents we all need to do a better job of fostering these relationships, myself included. I hope that parents who read this will help open that dialogue with their own child and perhaps make that one ‘extra’ invitation.”

Advertisement - Continue reading below

sdfdsf

This Video of a 14-Year-Old Finding Out She Is Receiving a Heart Transplant Will Make You Cry
Lifestyle
Margo Gothelf 1 min read

This Video of a 14-Year-Old Finding Out She Is Receiving a Heart Transplant Will Make You Cry

As Kids They Were the Ring Bearer and Flower Girl at a Wedding, Years Later They Married in the Same Church
Lifestyle
Brian Delpozo 2 min read

As Kids They Were the Ring Bearer and Flower Girl at a Wedding, Years Later They Married in the Same Church

Bachelor Party Finds Stray Puppies in the Woods and Adopts Every One of Them
Lifestyle
Robin Milling 3 min read

Bachelor Party Finds Stray Puppies in the Woods and Adopts Every One of Them

The Last 9/11 Search-and-Rescue Dog Dies at Age 16
Entertainment
Margo Gothelf 2 min read

The Last 9/11 Search-and-Rescue Dog Dies at Age 16

Brewery Creates Edible Six-Pack Rings Animals Can Actually Enjoy
Food
Margo Gothelf 2 min read

Brewery Creates Edible Six-Pack Rings Animals Can Actually Enjoy

Police Officer and Boy He Saved From Drowning Have Emotional Reunion 19 Years Later
Lifestyle
Margo Gothelf 1 min read

Police Officer and Boy He Saved From Drowning Have Emotional Reunion 19 Years Later

Syracuse Stuns Virginia to Earn Spot in the NCAA Final Four
Entertainment
Felissa Allard 2 min read

Syracuse Stuns Virginia to Earn Spot in the NCAA Final Four

You Won’t Breathe Watching Man Calmly Ride Unicycle Down Narrow Mountain Path
Entertainment
Kenny Servera 1 min read

You Won’t Breathe Watching Man Calmly Ride Unicycle Down Narrow Mountain Path

Orlando Nightclub Survivor Joshua McGill Hailed as Hero
News
Lauren Boudreau 3 min read

Orlando Nightclub Survivor Joshua McGill Hailed as Hero

New Drug Study Shows Boosts To Natural Immunity
Lifestyle
Margo Gothelf 2 min read

New Drug Study Shows Boosts To Natural Immunity

FSU Football Player Draws Cheers After Lunching With Autistic Boy Sitting Alone
Trending
Mauricio Castillo 2 min read

FSU Football Player Draws Cheers After Lunching With Autistic Boy Sitting Alone

Garth Brooks Gives His Guitar From the Stage to Emotional Fan
Apple
Robin Milling 3 min read

Garth Brooks Gives His Guitar From the Stage to Emotional Fan

sidebar

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

sidebar-alt

  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • For Advertisers