They are afraid they will not be able to cope with the situation. There are so many questions without answers and so much uncertainty about the future. Parents wonder if their life will be light or carefree again, if there will be laughter again, if they will be able to cope with this overwhelming burden the rest of their lives, or if there is light at the end of the tunnel. The unfairness of it is beyond comprehension for many. These are just a few of the questions asked.
H aving someone who is able to listen and understand is extremely important for new parents.
An experienced or veteran parent can be more sensitive to the feelings involved, offer more appropriate support and can help the new parents in ways that are not possible for professional counselors or doctors. Used as a resource, veteran parents can share their experiences and give invaluable suggestions about many aspects of the child's care and future development. They can reassure the new parents that the feelings they are experiencing are perfectly normal, and quite natural. There will usually be an immediate common bond between the two sets of parents, because the volunteer parent advocates felt the same way when they found out their child had Down syndrome. The creation of this bond can be a very important part of the adjustment process.