Hope started school this week—but she wasn’t the only one. Alexander started too, yet somehow, it hasn’t always felt like it. Why? Because my focus has been split, my attention constantly bouncing between making sure Hope is settled and worrying if Alexander is getting enough from me. The mum guilt has been real, but as I reflect on the first few days, I realise something important—maybe it hasn’t been as bad as I thought.
Just recently, it has felt like Hope has just started “getting” things and one of those things, is understanding her name. Hope not only knows what her name is, but she can spell it, sign it, and even write it and while it’s something that she’s been working on for some time, it felt sudden and unexpected when I realised that she could actually do it all.
You see a mum juggling life like a pro—balancing work, school runs, and endless appointments like it’s no big deal. What you don’t see are the late nights spent catching up on work because I’ve had to shuffle everything around for therapies or appointments. Parenting is not always easy. Here’s a few things you don’t see.
Hope had her first orientation visit into big school this week. I could probably share a post on all the feelings that go with that, but I’ll save that for another day. Instead, I want to share another little poem…
While Hope loves giving hugs, it’s important for her to learn who she can and can’t hug for her safety and the comfort of others. In this post, I share our ongoing journey of teaching her about personal space, consent, and finding the balance between allowing her to express love while keeping her safe.
When we are walking to the car, she will generally go straight to the car ready to climb in. However, there are some mornings that she looks up with her cheeky grin and keeps walking down the driveway. Following directions… it’s not always an easy thing to teach. Here’s a few thoughts.
I wanted to write about something I had recently experienced at a park with Hope. You’ve heard the stories about people taking their kids away and not showing understanding, but the other day we had a completely different experience, which made my day.
Often when we think about security blankets, we think about our kids and their blankets or toys but today I want to talk about my own security blanket. It’s not in the usual form but in the form of a ‘pram’.
When your child is sick, every sign of discomfort adds to your worry as you try to comfort them. With a child who has Down syndrome, these fears are heightened, as the risks can escalate quickly.
Explore the heartfelt poem “Please Don’t Call Me Different,” which captures a child’s plea for acceptance and understanding. This verse celebrates the joy of being oneself and the simple desire to be seen and treated like any other child, highlighting the importance of empathy and inclusion.