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Last Tuesday when the kids and I were at Nathan’s playgroup, Nathan picked up a hand from Mr. Potatohead and started waving it, saying clearly, “Hi.” That was a first! For the last week, he’s been using his new word to greet friends, family, and perfect strangers. I could not be happier! Seems like a simple thing, but when your child is not very verbal, each word that emerges is like a jewel…and mama likes to wear it.

I bombard Nathan with the alphabet, numbers, and colors constantly. We make letters out of play dough, I draw them on the Magna-Doodle, we have little foam letters in the bath tub that stick to tile when wet, talking ABC toys and of course books, books, books. Well it’s working because now Nathan knows his ABCs. I’ve read about kids with Down syndrome who didn’t really get the alphabet until they were five or six years old. Well, I’m proud to say that Nathan not only can identify them, but he can say the sounds that most of them make…and he’s two-and-a-half!!! I guess what I’m really trying to say here, is that nobody should give up on their child or withhold information and learning opportunities from them just because they have a disability. Pile on the teaching and push them!

My husband, Paul, and our neighbor Kelly often like to discuss educational issues. Both are teachers. So I hear buzz words like “differentiation” and “modalities” on a regular basis. I know there is a lot of debate about how much to cater to the vast differences between children when the class is full of 25 – 30 kids. Afterall, there’s one teacher who has to get through a lesson every day in a timely fashion. So, there may not be extra time for songs and dance in order to get the information to sink into every little mind. On the other hand, as a parent, I have the luxury of singing, dancing, drawing, sculpting, and standing on my head of need be in order to help my kids learn. Miika knew her ABCs at 18 months, now Nathan has them figured out at 2 1/2. The dog and pony show has paid off and it’s so rewarding.

Paul was talking to a family member on the phone last week, telling them about Nathan’s progress and she was amazed. After Paul hung up, he told me about their conversation, to which I replied, “most people who don’t actually know and love someone with Down syndrome, think they have little vegetable brains.” Basically, folks are just ignorant and unaware. If I accomplish nothing else with this blog, my hope is to communicate that children with DS are beautiful, smart, priceless, funny, endearing gifts that should be treasured, nurtured, and trained to grow up to be all they can be. I personally have great expectations for both of my kids and as a result, they are both high achievers. I don’t want to take all the credit, but I do want to emphasize how important it is to give 200%. I’m just like any other mom, tired, overworked, and short on time. On most nights I drop into bed around midnight and my work is still not done. Then I’m up around 6am to do it all over again. And I don’t always do it well, whatever it is…some days I’m not sure what I’ve accomplished because the list will often not have anything crossed off. So, I remind myself that my son knows his letters, my daughter is reading, and I’m proud as can be!

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