Why I Blog

Earlier this week my Dad and my StepMom graciously watched the children so my Husband (i.e. The Greatest) and I could escape for one glorious night with no children.

I can't even remember the last time we spent a night with no children.

We were just a tiny bit excited.

The Greatest knew a guy who arranged for us to stay in a suite on the top floor of a local hotel.

It was amazing.

It has ruined me for all other hotels.

From now on I can only stay on the top floor with an amazing view of the city.

We spent the afternoon exploring the city.  And that evening we found ourselves in the hotel restaurant asking each other 36 Questions to Fall In Love.  Not that we aren't already deeply in love, 17 years and five children would suggest that we at least kind of like each other.  But it was so very interesting to rediscover things we thought we knew about one another, and to see how we've grown and changed together. I highly recommend it.

One of the early, easy, questions queried if you would want to be famous, and if so for what.

I don't want to be famous.

I love my quiet little life.  I might enjoy having access to the monetary rewards that seem to follow infamy, but not the scrutiny that follows the famous.  I just want to live my life quietly, with dignity (people who know me in real life need to take a moment to stop reading and laugh at the word dignity being associated with me, I am not very dignified.  I try.  I fail.  Go ahead and laugh.  I'll forgive you), raising the best little human beings that I can.

But if I were to wake up and find myself famous, to have a voice, and a large audience to speak to, who would listen and really hear what I had to say, I would use it to speak for my daughter.

My youngest little poppet has Trisomy 21.  Better known as Down syndrome.  (Pro tip, Big D, little s)

She is pure joy.

Unless she is teething.

And then she isn't.

I would use my platform to change the world for her.  I want to create a world where she is included, accepted, loved.  A world where the accepted "cure" for Down syndrome isn't abortion.  A world where parents don't fear when they learn they are going to have a child with Down syndrome.

There is no reason to fear.

Having a child with Down syndrome is a lot like having a child.

Because it is having a child.

A child who learns and grows with her own likes and dislikes and personality.

My Husband really is The Greatest and he believes I could do this.  He believes I could singlehandedly change the world.  He encouraged me to start a blog, or write a book or submit articles to The Mighty.  To find my voice.  To share our experiences and the joy that is Miss Lily Bean with the world.  He believes I could make a difference.

Do I think this will make me famous?

Goodness I hope not.

There are many many many many many blogs like this one out there.  Written by better writers.  With better pictures.  With better voices.

But I would like to add my voice to the chorus.

I would like to stand with the others who stand and proudly declare

"I didn't know I wanted a child with Down syndrome until I had one."

We are the parents of the lucky few.

And if I can create just a little more awareness, acceptance, education in the world, then that is a beautiful thing.