Another well-meaning person suggested that maybe Thorin could be a bag boy when he gets older.  The variation on this is he could be a greeter at Wal-Mart.

These suggestions are based solely on the fact these well-meaning people saw a person with Down syndrome do this kind of work. Who cares if Thorin would like bagging groceries or greeting people.

A friend told me about a conversation he had with a neighbor who has Down syndrome. She had been offered a job as a greeter by an employment agency. Her response was something like, “Why would I want to be a greeter? I’m just not that good at pretending to be friendly with complete strangers.”

Imagine!  A person with Down syndrome who wasn’t a people person! It’s like a Kardasian who is too uptight to make a sex tape or eschews cosmetic surgery.

How easy is this employment placement lady’s job? Like, if a gay guy comes in does she ask if he wants to be a hairdresser? Are Italians steered toward waste management? Are immigrants encouraged to get a hack license?

Thorin loves making art, listening to music, dancing and watching movies. I wouldn’t be surprise if he did something artistic based on what he likes to do now. But, the reality is I don’t know now what Thorin will end up doing for work. My hope is only that it be what he wants.