Equally Loved

Equally Loved

Everyday with my children is beautiful and full of love and contentment. I’m so thankful for them. I read a beautiful post from a fellow mom who’s daughter is also living with the beauty of Down Syndrome. This particular post could’ve been written straight from my own heart. She was basically saying that her IG has been overtaken with photos of her son (like mine has with Savannah) with hopes of educating others and giving hope to families beginning a journey and living with the beauty of Down Syndrome. As a mom, I put no child before the other. I love them equally. So much so that just yesterday while making Alexis and Ava’s lunch, I had 4 slices of bread remaining, with one of them being the heel piece. I didn’t want to chose which daughter got the sandwich with the heel and which one got the sandwich with both soft pieces. So, I cut the heel piece in half as well as one slice of the soft piece, making them receive an equal sandwich (Which looked like a checker board )! Each of my children are unique and amazing. I may highlight Savannah more because I want with all my heart for no one to feel sorry for us or to be sad for us. I never want anyone to think “bless her heart”, which us Southern folk know isn’t a compliment! Ignorance promotes fear. Fear promotes discrimination and cruelty. That is why we, as special needs moms and dads, advocate, stand together so tightly as if we share the same blood, fight for rights, educate, and even open up our personal journey to be scrutinized. We live with so much love and passion, more than can be explained in words through a post or blog. We show love through a living testimony. Yesterday, Ava (my 11 year old) shared with a peer group in class that her little sister has DS. The reaction she received was “awe, I’m sorry”. She immediately said, “Oh no! Don’t be sorry! It’s normal and great. There’s nothing bad about it”. Savannah’s siblings will be educators and advocates as well, they already are! We, as Savannah’s family, will draw strength not only from God, The One who gave us Savannah and makes no mistakes, but from Savannah herself! Savannah, you are strong warrior. You can do anything, and I will be right there with admiration.