To be honest, this time last year I didn't know there was such a thing as Down Syndrome Day and I'll bet many of you didn't either.
To be honest, I'm still not sure what it's about.
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| Mummy, big brother and Cutesy - her socks are odd but it doesn't show in the pic. |
Today, we are supposed to wear odd socks to get people asking us about them, to generate a conversation to raise awareness of the day. I think it's all about breaking down barriers that have existed because Down Syndrome has been "separate" in our society. Wonderfully and thankfully, that is changing. I think it's about trying to dispel myths and promote inclusion, sidelining fear of the unknown.
Being honest, I still fear the unknown. But the known?
This beautiful little girl who is the silver lining to all of the clouds?
Her I no longer fear.
One day at a time our lives might be full of mismatched socks, things that no longer pair.
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| Cutesy and my dad - love fest! |
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| Cutesy, daddy and big brother. |
But as a family we will wear them and we will laugh and we will cry (because Mummy has OCD and likes things paired up! - exactly who has a condition in this house?) and we will laugh some more.
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| Safe in big brother's cuddle. |
So today, here's to us, our silly odd socks and to life with differences! Thank you my beautiful Cutesy for all the lessons you are teaching me and I know I have still to learn. Your real names mean 'little golden one' and you are most certainly that!
Big hugs, Mummy xx
And to all of our families and to all of my friends here and elsewhere THANK YOU from my heart for your inclusion of my little girl, for not making her difference matter, for being part of this journey with us.
Watch and weep -
xxx
