How I See It

We're over half way through the month of October. The month of Down Syndrome Awareness Month. I've been pondering much on this as of late. I guess I don't talk much about the "Down syndrome thing." As I was thinking about this I've come to the conclusion that it's just something that we do. It is something that I think about everyday but it isn't something that runs our day.

I feel very blessed that we live in the community that we do. While I can't speak of every single person that lives here, for the most part everyone is very accepting of my children. It's not uncommon for us to be in a store and have people wave to The Boy. People that I don't know, but apparently know him. Or to have people stop us and want to talk to the kids and then share with me how they or someone they know has been touched by this thing we call Down syndrome.

We are also active at church. And while most people there aren't trained to work with children with Special Needs so many have opened there arms and hearts to my children. It is wonderful to be among friends who see my children for who they are instead of, perhaps, what they are.

We moved here on the very day that The Boy turned one. The services we had been receiving were unremarkable, uneventful and lots of other "un-'s." I was apprehensive to get services started once we got here for that reason. I finally decided to go for it. The difference was like night and day. We immediately starting receiving not only great services but great support. When The Boy was about to turn 3 and start transitioning into bigger things I was sad to leave behind the friends we made. When Little Miss was born I was so excited to call them and tell them to start coming back to my home. It was such a blessing for us.

Once The Boy was three he started Early Childhood Special Education. Preschool. I was incredibly nervous at first. Sending my baby away for a half a day, almost everyday. But I soon learned that he was surrounded by people who quickly fell in love with him and had his best interest at heart. He continued to make great progress. He thrived with their structure and routine. Something that I struggle to give him here at home. Our next big thing, of course, has been kindergarten. While we are still in the beginning stages to some degree. Sometimes those stages take a little ironing out to run completely smooth. I can't help but notice the incredible progress he has made since starting Kindergarten. I know that he is in good hands.

It's just something that we do. As a mother, like most mothers of children with any kind of special need, I see my children as my children. They were my children before I knew that they carried that extra chromosome. I don't see what some might see, the Down syndrome. Which is okay with me, I can't control what others see and feel. I can try my best to show them that the battles we face everyday aren't that different from the battles that anyone with children faces. We have battles over trying to get kids to eat their dinner. Battles over getting dressed in the morning. Battles over picking up their toys. Battles over listening to their mother. Battles over bedtimes. Sound familiar?

On the outside looking in I suppose it would be easy to think that we have it hard. Two children with special needs. Their future somewhat uncertain. I guess I don't think that way. It could be a lot worse. That's how I see it.