These parents shared stories with me. They were a soothing tonic. When everything felt so untypical, listening to their stories in everyday voices, made me feel right at home. Many parents said in their own words, “You are in for a great journey. It will be challenging yes, but you will also be very thankful. Its hard to understand this right now, but you will.”
I didn’t understand, so therefore, remembered this. And then the answers started to come. Not as a big epiphany, but in bits and pieces; in seemingly typical moments. Moments that if these parents were to explain, would not hold the significance they do today.
These moments are in the way your child figures out a way to find his favorite song on Spotify, and plays it over and over and over and over to the point you think you can hear it no more. But later, in the car, when that same song comes on the radio, you find yourself smiling.
These moments are in the way your child steps out of the car on a cold morning, and never forgets to stop and watch his breath.
These moments are in the way your child never, ever stops singing. There is always music that lives inside of him.
These moments are in the way when he wants you to join him, he says, “Mom, sing” and even if you make up a song, he will sing it with you.
These moments are in the way your child flashes that smile and a bad day simply doesn’t stand a chance.
These moments, as simple as they may seem, hold great significance in the way live them. This is what I did not understand at one time, but now I do.
My friends were right. Yes, I am so very thankful.
Stories of Wil, my son, who has Down syndrome 