Being Part of "The Club" - Down Syndrome Fact Friday - Down Syndrome Awareness Month

We are on vacation, surviving (barely!) in the humid weather of Florida. :)

These last few days have been spent at amusement parks. My boys are having a BLAST!!

We have crossed paths with a number of families with children (both young and adult) with Down Syndrome. They come from different countries, different walks of life, different ages.

Down Syndrome does not discriminate. Though your risk of having a child increases once you hit 35, it doesn't mean there isn't a possibility. I was 32 when I was pregnant with Cody and learned of his diagnosis.

Down Syndrome doesn't happen more in one country than another. It's like a lottery and you never know if you are going to win.

Down Syndrome doesn't care how much money you make or how educated you are or aren't.

When I come across families with children with Down Syndrome, we make eye contact and it is like we are in an elite club. The kind of club where we should have a secret handshake. The "I want to pound my chest twice with a fist and throw a peace sign" kind of club. The kind of club that only others going through your similar experience understand. Even as strangers, you feel compelled to smile, say hi and possibly introduce yourself.

It's a wonderful club to be a part of. The good, the bad, the ugly...there are others who have walked the path before you and are more than happy to share their experiences. They let you know the difficulties that may come and also the triumphs, big and small, that are ahead of you.

Just like with any child, life with a child with special needs isn't always rainbows and unicorns. I am thankful to have the Down Syndrome community to turn to and keep me grounded in sanity when difficult experiences come up.

Happy Down Syndrome Awareness month, my friends. Have you hugged a designer gened hero today???

- Posted from my iPad