Meet Our Kids!
The finished product
In August of 2020, an already very long year filled with fear and isolation, I was pregnant with my 4th child. This one, we had decided, would be a surprise. Little did we know what a huge surprise was in store!
“Your baby has down syndrome,” the doctor said. These words were a shot of fear straight to my heart. There was something wrong with my child.
The funny thing was, she obviously did NOT get the memo, and it was hard to believe she would bring grim despair to our lives as I watched her dance and tumble around happily on the distorted ultrasound screen.
Down syndrome is unique in that we can foresee some of the problems that our child might have. And some parents (like me) can be frightened by that idea - as if a typical child would never have struggles in school, problems fitting in, physical issues, or a behavioral diagnosis.
Thankfully, my fears were relieved after talking with another mom who also had a child with down syndrome, and our darlin’ Daria Lynn was born in the fall of 2020 at 2 lbs 1 oz (my tiny pumpkin)!
Daria in the NICU
What my daughter has shown me is that it is okay to have imperfect children. And this is such a valuable lesson not just for me but for my other children as well. When they see Daria, they know that it is okay to fail or take things slow or not get it right the first time (or the second or third time even). They learn not to judge by status, appearance or accomplishments, but rather by the heart. They learn to encourage those who struggle and show kindness and acceptance to those who feel left out.
And aren't those the kind of people we want in our world?
This book is a compilation of sketches I've drawn over the course of two months as a gift to other Arizona mothers who also have a child (or children) affected by Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome). I created this booklet for them, but also for other moms (and potential moms!). My hope is for those who look upon these faces to feel encouraged and emboldened and to reflect on the notes left by caring moms. Know that you are not alone, that we adore our sweet, oh-so-huggable kiddos, and we all consider each of our children an unexpected but delightful gift!
