............but not with Down syndrome...............A few people have googled my blog & found it by typing in "away with Down syndrome". I'm not complaining - really, I really do appreciate that they care enough to look for my blog & read my thoughts, but I thought I should take this moment to explain what I meant when I titled my blog this way.
I don't want to do away with Down syndrome, I want my daughter to be known as this awesome kid who, (as an afterthought) just happens to have Down syndrome. I want people to realize that DS is really not the important part of who she is & I want people to realize that my daughter, & most people with DS are not the stereotypical person that many people picture in their minds when they hear that diagnosis. And sometimes.......? I just want to say "Look - my daughter can do (insert list here) that your "perfect" child can't." OK, I'm ranting now, I know, but low expectations & stereotyping can be the worst enemy of a child with DS and I tend to get a little passionate about the subject.
As many of you who have been reading my blog realize, I have very high expectations for my daughter. Up, Up, & Away refers to the fact that I feel the sky is the limit for her. Only she can tell me if she will have any limitations in life. At risk of being that Mom who has unrealistic expectations or can't accept reality, I will not accept any one's opinion about my daughter's future but her own. She will show me what she can do in life and I have no doubt that one day, with my eyes filled with tears of joy, pride & a little sadness, I will wave goodbye to K as I did with her big sisters before her, as she heads out to live an independent life.
I have no crystal ball, I could be wrong in my predictions, but I won't take the goal of a full & independent life or any other dreams away from her - it is not my right as a mother to do that, especially when the child I am talking about is only 4 years old.
I started this blog hoping to inspire other parents to help their children with Down syndrome reach for the sky! My daughter was reading words, before she was 2 years of age & reading books by 3.5 years. I believe kids with Down syndrome can do amazing things if we give them the right tools. I truly believe high expectations can make a tremendous difference in the lives of our children!
At our Ds association meeting yesterday, a young lady (who just happens to have Ds) came to speak about her success in middle school, high school, and college. She used PowerPoint slides and did a fantastic job. Her speech was so clear, and she answered questions with poise. It was awesome. The sky really is the limit for our kids, and I am so glad my child was born in an age of high expectations and early interventions. I can't wait to see what he becomes!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy your blog!
-April
I agree April! Wish I'd seen that!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear you enjoy my blog!