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Live in the moment and enjoy the journey



October we celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness month and all month I’ve been thinking “must write a post”... 

However I’ve been struck down with writers block because for us, we just have a 3 year old son. He is active, curious and full of attitude and who just happens to have an extra chromosome.
Having a kid with an extra chromosome tests your patience, temper and tolerance. I’m not talking about my child or his behaviour, I’m talking about the the conversations I have at times with other parents!
It’s natural for parents to discuss, compare and whinge about their kids, c’mon it’s fine to admit we all do it because no child or parent is perfect. 

One side effect of having a child with DS is that more people, (in many cases some I’ve never met) find ease opening up about their or their children’s issues, I’m no expert or qualified to give professional advice but happy to listen if someone needs to chat.
But I’ve started to notice a common comment, after actively listening to other parents, they often end with the same phrase “Sorry for whinging I know your circumstances are harder with Leo” .
So firstly “my circumstance” is my son and I don’t particularly find him any “harder” that it was with Emmy. 

Yes we have some additional appointments but therapy is just an activity in the calendar, as he has a few visits to his paediatrician. His team is amazing and it’s never a burden to attend, often it’s a brag session “guess what Leo did”, or us proudly watching him learn or master a new skill.
Leo goes to childcare a few days a week, started Joey's soccer with a local club and loves the typical maccas stop after sport! 

Home life is pretty cruisey, the backyard is a kids amusement park full of toys and as it’s getting warmer the sprinkler is getting a workout. We have 2 very active kids under 5, so dad often gets beauty treatment, plays doctors, pretends to eat random concoctions while I’m often roped into watching Minions for the 1000th time, making cakes or performing dance offs.

We go for dinner, we go on holidays, hang out with friends, we pretty much do typical family stuff.
So October is all about awareness so I thought be brave and let people know the comments around my “circumstance being harder” are puzzling!
Yes we are busy, we both work full time and both kids have activities to attend and homework, but that is just family-life right? 

Most parents are selfless, they rush between activities and events because they want the best for their child. Taking them to sporting practice, getting a tutor, playing dress ups at inappropriate hours is just parenting!
It’s a juggling act, parents are all often deprived of time and sleep but seeing your child achieve or smile isn’t “hard”, its rewarding. Particularly when you know he's had to work harder to achieve that goal.
We aren’t perfect, it’s not always easy but please be assured life isn’t harder because of Leo's genetics, it's just different. 

That little extra chromosome actually has made us more patient and appreciative, and yes the road can be bumpy but when it is we remind ourselves to live in the moment and enjoy the journey.

Written by Leo's mum, Naomi.
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