On 10th January, Hope lost one of her biggest supporters — her poppy, my dad, Morris. He was a fun, firm, and loving man who showed his care in countless ways, from cheering on achievements to helping out whenever he could. Though he may no longer be with us, his spirit lives on in our memories, the stories we tell, and in the ways we continue to feel his love every day
After sharing about Hope and Down syndrome at school, Alexander made a comment on the way home that I wasn’t expecting: “Mum, I’m lucky I wasn’t born with Down syndrome.” It stopped me in my tracks. I understood what he meant—he’s seen how hard Hope works every day. But does that mean he thinks she’s unlucky? It made me question how we talk about Down syndrome, how we shape our kids’ perspectives, and how we show them that having to work harder doesn’t mean being unlucky—it means being strong.
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.
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.
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’.
“Mum” is a word that echoes through our homes daily, often to the point where we can almost tire of hearing it. But for some, like me, it’s a word we longed to hear for years. And now… I’m hearing it.
When it comes to having a child with Down syndrome, a lot of people are concerned about the time it will take to look after them, and they worry that they’re other children will miss out. I have times I have felt like that too, but let’s look at what it really looks like.
When you have a child with Down syndrome, you quickly realise just how important a strong support system is. Whether it’s family, friends, or even strangers who step up in unexpected ways, these people become your lifeline. From celebrating milestones to helping during tough times, their support makes all the difference.
Kids have a way of seeing the world so simply, and our boys are no exception. We sat down with Lincoln and Alexander to ask them a few questions about their sister Hope—what they love about her, what they think about Down syndrome, and whether they believe she’s different. Their responses? Honest, sweet, and full of love. Teaching acceptance starts young, and it’s clear these two already know what truly matters.
Life has been busy, noisy and a little chaotic lately—but in the middle of it all, I’ve been reminded just how far our kids have come. Watching Lincoln step into his role as big brother has been one of the greatest joys. From crawling beside Hope so she can “race,” to helping her practise walking and singing songs she loves, his patience and love are simply beautiful. The bond between siblings may look different at times, but it is powerful, natural and full of heart.