Lessons in Love and Life: Raising a Child With Down Syndrome Teaches Us to Always Say 'Hello'

About one out of every 775 infants born in the USA has Down syndrome According to the National Down Syndrome Society, I encountered this statistic personally after my daughter Molly was born on June 23, 2010.

Following her birth, our family faced numerous uncertainties. The doctors informed us that she could potentially struggle with walking, talking, self-feeding, or living what we consider a typical life. This was difficult news to digest, especially since she was just a newborn.

My spouse and I felt compelled to provide our daughter with all possible chances for success. At 14 years old, GudangMovies21 has shown everyone they were mistaken. Instead of merely walking, she sprints; instead of simply talking, she croons (primarilyTaylor Swift tunes). She tackles every meal set before her and refuses to be confined by having an additional chromosome.

Although parents may not expect to learn their child has Down syndrome, I find myself grateful nonetheless. lessons that Down syndrome has imparted to us In the last 14 years.

Take your time and savor the moments.

Even though it takes Molly extra time to complete some activities (such as having dinner), we've come to appreciate taking things at her pace and savoring our time together. This has led to extended family gatherings where we all stay seated around the table until everybody has finished eating.

Whenever our clan takes a trip to the Florida amusement parks and Molly requires some rest from all the strolling, we pause to appreciate the surroundings. When things become slightly too much for her, we halt and relish the peaceful areas nearby. These instances continually remind us not to hurry or push ourselves excessively. Such breaks make these times truly precious to us.

Always say hello

I've noticed that people often approach those with different abilities cautiously. Whenever I observe others—be they children or adults—staring at or steering clear of Molly, I make sure to initiate contact with a friendly greeting. Whether it’s Molly or myself saying just a brief "hello," this small gesture serves as an effective icebreaker and helps put everyone at ease.

In many situations, we find ourselves engaging in deep discussions with people who have connections to others. Down syndrome Or be connected with the special needs community. Greeting someone is simple and is always the appropriate action.

Consider the figures cautiously.

From early on in Molly's journey, I chose to overlook the figures—whether these were test scores or physical measures comparing her to children who are neurotypical or those with Down syndrome—they didn't reveal much about who my daughter truly was. Instead, I concentrated on ensuring she continued to grow at her own pace. It wouldn’t be fair to benchmark her against others since she has a distinct path. During each yearly visit for health checks, her weight and height are recorded using charts specific to individuals with Down syndrome; however, even this data doesn’t sway me entirely, as I recognize that despite shared characteristics, every child with Down syndrome, including Molly, possesses their own uniqueness.

Ever since Molly began attending school, the yearly IEP meetings, test results, and progress reports have consistently served as reminders that she isn't like most students. She lags significantly behind children of her own age who develop typically, which is something we experience every day. Therefore, those figures aren’t necessary to make me aware of this reality.

As Molly’s mother, my primary worry is ensuring she is content, flourishing, and has equal chances to excel as others of her age.

Small details make a big difference

Scratchy clothing and irritating tags? They're not an issue for me, but they could make all the difference for Molly. In the past, I wouldn't have considered removing the labels from my shirts or trousers post-purchase. Nowadays, snipping those tags off immediately after shopping is the very first thing I do.

Molly loves the color purple. All of her school supplies are purple — her bookbag, her water bottle, her pencil case, her folders — everything. On the surface, it’s because purple is her favorite color, but in reality, it helps her know that everything purple is “hers.” So, when I shop for Molly, I shop for purple things.

She appreciates small details significantly.

She’s a typical kid

As a parent, it’s simple to fall into the habit of handling every task for my kids. Nonetheless, I've discovered that Molly has the ability to be self-reliant and can manage tasks independently.

At our place, Molly gets the same treatment as her older sibling. She handles various tasks at home; chooses her attire for school herself; selects which after-school activities she wants to participate in—or opt-out of—and contributes to making family choices. There’s nothing stopping her from joining in, and we don’t treat her differently than anyone else here!

Molly and our family extend beyond the scope of Down syndrome. We have lived with this condition for fourteen years now, and although our journey may differ from what we initially anticipated, we feel an immense sense of pride in Molly and the meaningful insights her diagnosis has imparted upon us. These experiences have enriched each one of us.

The article was initially posted on GudangMovies21