Hello.
It’s me.
You can call me…
sweetheart
kiddo
sunshine
Call me…
student
equestrian
swimmer
Call me…
artist
dancer
singer
Call me friend.
I am me.
I am…
charming
stubborn
silly
I am…
affectionate
moody
kind
I am…
imaginative
exuberant
bossy
I am sweet.
I am me.
I have…
parents who adore me
sisters who tease me
a little brother who follows me around
I have…
grandparents who dote on me
teachers who are proud of me
friends of all shapes, sizes and colours
I have…
fears and dreams
favourite songs and movies
strong opinions about my own life
I have Down Syndrome.
I have
Down Syndrome.
But I am not Down Syndrome.
I am me.
So here’s my homage to the lovely “Lose the Label” campaign (@Lose_the_label). Because we are, all of us, more than our diagnoses and disabilities.
March 21 is World Down Syndrome (aka Trisomy 21) Day. You know, 3/21 for Trisomy 21… get it?
In honour of the unique and wonderful people we know, who happen to have Down Syndrome (especially the one we feed and hug and tuck into bed every night) I am posting a link to this tearjerker. I defy you to watch it and not get choked up:
Dear Future Mom…
So Here's Us... 
March 21st, 2014 at 8:54 am
This is very sweet! What a great tribute to all of these wonderful children, including your own.
March 21st, 2014 at 8:58 am
Just watched the video. That is a tearjerker. Loved it!
March 21st, 2014 at 8:04 pm
I know – I’ve watched it several times and I bawl every time.
March 21st, 2014 at 9:29 am
Beautiful!! so well said!
March 21st, 2014 at 8:05 pm
Thank you!
March 21st, 2014 at 10:52 pm
This was lovely, I am glad I know you!
March 22nd, 2014 at 11:11 am
The feeling’s entirely mutual!
March 22nd, 2014 at 12:17 pm
Well written. May peace be with you 🙂
March 23rd, 2014 at 12:02 pm
And you as well. Thank you!
April 1st, 2014 at 6:04 am
[…] one hand is my usual fare, a poem for World Down Syndrome Day: I Am Me; another one for So-Overwhelmed-I’m-Losing-My-Mind Day (aka – almost every day): […]
April 6th, 2014 at 9:35 am
There is no one special day for recognizing or celebrating D.S. for me… every single day is Down Syndrome Day… this is our world and my son is the world to me.
April 6th, 2014 at 11:20 am
For those of us who walk this path everyday, this is certainly the truth! 🙂