I got these back to back on my facebook feed. Now, I haven't read the Atlantic article, and also it was written in 2020 and not as a response to this couple, but clearly the Atlantic is reposting it with an incendiary pull line to capitalize on this couple's story.

And the pull line is ridiculous on its own, regardless of what context I'm missing from the article. Down syndrome is not an inherited trait like red hair or brown eyes. It's chromosomal abnormality. Talking about it like there's some kind of movement trying to "wipe out" a group of people is so intellectually dishonest. Down syndrome is not an ethnic group, and one woman aborting is not a call to murder all living people with Down syndrome.

Sometimes, Down Syndrome is mild. A person with it needs minimal support and can live a relatively normal life.

Other times though, Down Syndrome is so severe that you have an incredibly sick child, who will never be able to do anything independently, and will live their lives in a constant cycle of caretakers and medical appointments until they ultimately die. Even with government support, caring for someone who is extremely disabled is financially draining. Not to mention the strain of having to care for someone who cannot do for themselves.

In 2021, Swarovski (the company that makes the very sparkly crystals you see in certain jewelry, on figure-skaters' twinkliest outfits, on red carpet dresses), decided they didn't want the grubby fingers of small-time jewelers, clothing designers and costumers and crafters on their shiny beads and rhinestones anymore. They decided to limit their sales to "luxury" and couture creators, not girls who sell stuff on Etsy. The tenor of their press release on the subject was snide and insulting. Resellers (like your favorite bead shop) would no longer be allowed to carry their product; the average Jane on the street would not be able to purchase them. You could only get them if you had an authorized business agreement that bound you to very strict brand behavior. And those of us who still had good stock of the crystals would no longer be "permitted" to use the brand's name in our listings for sale.

Every bead shop and craft supply place and many, many small clothing makers--wedding shops, prom and dancing dress suppliers, the sort of salt of the Earth mom and pop time machines of shops that are the backbone of the field--scrambled to find something that could replace them. The last of the stock dwindled quickly, all of us grabbing what we could get while there was any chance of it, and then it was gone and we no longer had any access.

I was Big Pissed about it at the time. It was just so goddamn stuck-up, when wholesalers and indie jewelers had made them so much money, when some people I knew--when *I!*--had been brand-loyal for decades. But with no recourse, everyone pivoted fairly quickly, most of us to Preciosa Crystals. Those are Czech, quite sparkly, and considerably less expensive than Swarovski. The faceting method they use is different, but not worse; any differences are hardly noticeable when you're seeing them as a hundred pinpoints of light.

Well, out of nowhere, Swarovski just dropped this: https://www.harmanbeads.com/swarovski-brand-policy-update

"Effective June 1, 2026, Swarovski updated the distribution and brand usage policies introduced in 2021. Businesses may now purchase Swarovski Crystals without signing a Brand Control Agreement, and Authorized Distribution Partners may once again sell Swarovski Crystals to resellers, including bead stores and online retailers. Businesses may also use the Swarovski brand name when following Swarovski’s Proper Use Guidelines. Designers, manufacturers, artists, brands, retailers, and resellers are now eligible to purchase Swarovski Crystals through authorized distribution channels."

They want us back. A lot of the companies who could have kept a brand relationship with them also have swapped to Preciosa, over the last half-decade, in solidarity with indie creators and out of a sour awareness that it could be them, next. And it doesn't hurt that Preciosa was able to expand their line quite a bit now that everyone who wanted sparkle had no choice but to go to them.

And I'm not seeing nearly anyone who intends to return. The feeling is, "Y'all told us to fuck off! Off we fucked! And now, that's what you can do, too!" I'm seeing a lot of "How many of us did you stab in the back?" comments from the people whose money they're hoping to attract.

November 2025, fires 400 more.

Wow. Wonder why they’re reversing course. 🙃

“It’s tempting to assume”: someone’s assumption is about to be criticized

It is also LESS stressing to have a bit control over your fun and you don't *have* to depend on the whims others for your joy.

As a child, if no one organize anything special for your birthday you don't have a birthday and it sucks.

As an adult, you can choose to organize something or do something good to treat yourself, no matter how small it might seem to others.

It doesn't have to be your birthday, you can choose to do or eat or watch or read or create small things that makes you happy everyday. If you want to eat a slice of cake you can, no one is stopping you.

If you want to take a walk on the park after coming home from work because it makes happy you don't have to ask for permission when you live alone. There is no adult to decide every little detail of your free time, so outside of job (where one obviously has rules and a common schedule to respect) you can build your own routine in the way you wanted, and choose how you occupy your free times, or makes your special days more special.

THIS is such a freeing mindset if you had controlling parents. (Even very well-meaning controlling ones like mine.)