31 For 21, Thank You Moms...

I was just friended by a woman on facebook. A woman I never met, a woman who lives on the other side of the country. Not unusual, right? I mean people have hundreds of "friends" on FB. How many do you actually know? Probably just a handful. 


I never really got into the idea of FB. I mean, I don't have time to tell everyone my cat just threw up or I need a cup of coffee. And does anyone really care? Then probably, some time after I started my blog, I decided to just check it out, see if I could get any friends. Curiosity got the best of me.  My thoughts were to connect with old friends. That was cool. I did find a couple and for that reason alone I stayed on FB.   Then something wonderful happened, I started getting friend requests from people I didn't know, but people I was certainly connected to.  How did they find me? Who were these people? 

Other Moms, other moms just like me. I realized there was yet another world out there. Another form of support and information for families who have a child with Down syndrome.

As a mom with a younger child I look for direction from someone who as already been where I am right now. It's easy for a new mother to find a role model. It could be her own mother, or sister, a friend maybe. But what about the mom who has a child with Ds? My mom was a good mother but she doesn't know what it's like to have a child with Ds.  Of course the taking care of and nurturing , diaper changing, etc, is all the same. What I'm talking about is the therapies, and the doctors and inclusion, and bullying. Dealing with people who don't accept your child, who don't think they are just the cutest thing on two feet. Doctors who just p*ss you off. And the myriad of other issues that can arise without a moments notice. Issues that can be resolved. But, how? That's the question. So who has the answer?


Other moms. Moms who have paved the path, moms who went full steam ahead, moms who didn't take no for an answer. The mothers who dared to question the doctors and the schools and society. The moms who insisted their child was worth it. 

The mothers of the children who have become the adults. The first advocates, raising the first generation of self advocates.  


So am I preaching that all the answers can be found on FB. Of course not. If it were only that easy, right?

But, getting back to the woman who sent me the friend request. Her son is forty- eight years old. What a wealth of information she is. I'm sure of it. There is a couple who attend my church. Their son is Fifty!! and I would be remiss if i didn't mention Joyce, Sarah's mother. Joyce,you are amazing! 

They are the pioneers! They were caring for their children when people were telling them not to! In a time when it wasn't "acceptable". 
Moms with adult children are a blessing to us with younger children. They are our most valuable source of information.   

And today, on day two of Down syndrome Awareness Month I want to say THANK YOU!!!! 
Thank you for paving the way. Thank you for making things better for our children, for lighting our way, and being  extraordinary role models.