 |
| The early days. Our playgroup in 2008 when Maddi was born. |
In the last four days, our friends have delivered delicious meals to our doorstep - starting with gourmet ground chicken stew, mediterranean chicken with cucumber yogurt, and now chicken pot pie. Did I mention the "dangerous" ginger-spiced cookies and oatmeal chocolate chip mini-cookies? All because I have a newborn taking up all my time with feedings, diaper changings, and more.
I am grateful beyond words for the people that I've met through my daughters Madeleine and Elizabeth - whether through playgroups, preschool, and more recently the support network for special needs children.
In early 2008 when Madeleine was born, I joined a moms' group organized through the hospital where we delivered. Moms with kids born in the last couple months were invited to join and meet once per week to talk about the rewards and difficulties of entering motherhood. We shed tears and shared laughter. One mom had twins - I could never understand how she did double what I was doing. Others had babies with colic who cried all day long. Madeleine was pretty easy. She didn't cry much but she did wake upevery two hours (all day long) to feed. We planned outings to the park and indoor play areas. Heck - we even planned meetings at Starbucks just get ourselves and kiddos out of the house.
  |
| Some of our adorable playgroup babes at about six months. |
 |
| Maddi at six-ish months |
The moms I met are some of my closest friends today.
Nancy has taught me that life can be beautiful everyday (see her website http://www.littleepicure.com/). Kati has taught me to find the beauty in everyday life (she took this picture of Maddi and is now a pro photographer). Amanda has taught me to celebrate today; tomorrow can be worried about then. She recently moved to an awesome ranch in Colorado that I wish she would blog about. (hint!hint!) There's more - too many to mention. I've learned a million lessons from them all. And it's all because of my daughters that I even know them.
Three years later (in November 2011), I have another daughter - Elizabeth. Oh Elizabeth. You have taught me so much in just eight short weeks. I love my friends before children. I talk to many of them everyday and they have kiddos now too, so we share a very meaningful relationship that has brought us from childhood to parenthood as friends.
Three years later (in November 2011), I have another daughter - Elizabeth. Oh Elizabeth. You have taught me so much in just eight short weeks. I love my friends before children. I talk to many of them everyday and they have kiddos now too, so we share a very meaningful relationship that has brought us from childhood to parenthood as friends.
The women I've met through Elizabeth have given me a special type of support, strength and faith (so have those previous). According to these mothers, all children - and not just those with Downs - will be hard work, and will provide moments of joy and sorrow. There is so much truth in this statement. Maybe I shouldn't be so afraid of tomorrow, or of the unknown as it relates to Elizabeth. This is the chance we took with having kids.
The day I learned Lizzie had Downs was among the loneliest day in my life, despite having dozens of family members around me. Ideas raced through my mind that we would be in a "different program" than everyone else - different schools, different sports. I wondered if our friends would still want to be around us. I know - sounds crazy but these are the places a mind goes when something so extraordinary occurs.
Boy were my feelings misguided! Within a couple weeks, we as a family opened our hearts and minds to this new experience. And we were rewarded tremendously. There was an outpouring of support from my friends (with and without children).
We reached out and told a handful of people who put us in touch with some of the most amazing families in Portland - families whose kids have Down Syndrome. Many of these moms have told me, "Thank you for bringing me to Holland, but I think I'll try to get to Italy." What this means is that the diagnosis of Downs does not have to create artificial limitations (sure there are some real limits) but now these individuals diagnosed with Downs have gone on to swim distances only Olympians are capable of, make a business with unique art, and more. And these kiddos have Downs.
Boy were my feelings misguided! Within a couple weeks, we as a family opened our hearts and minds to this new experience. And we were rewarded tremendously. There was an outpouring of support from my friends (with and without children).
We reached out and told a handful of people who put us in touch with some of the most amazing families in Portland - families whose kids have Down Syndrome. Many of these moms have told me, "Thank you for bringing me to Holland, but I think I'll try to get to Italy." What this means is that the diagnosis of Downs does not have to create artificial limitations (sure there are some real limits) but now these individuals diagnosed with Downs have gone on to swim distances only Olympians are capable of, make a business with unique art, and more. And these kiddos have Downs.
Let's celebrate joy and hard work, and having friends who came along because of my children. Thank you Maddi and Elizabeth for opening me up to new worlds of people and ideas.
No comments:
Post a Comment