I’m not sure when the shift exactly happened for me. Where I went from not being able to talk about Harper’s Down syndrome diagnosis without tears to nonchalantly being able to talk about it like it was just one more descriptor of my little girl. This is Harper – she is always smiling, greets you with warm hugs, loves sweet treats and also happens to have Down syndrome.
I have peace with Harper’s Down syndrome. While it is definitely not easy and there are still moments of struggle and sadness, there is an overwhelming amount of goodness that Harper has brought into not only my life, but also anyone she meets. And if I could boil it down into one thing it would be celebration.
Knowing how to celebrate
I think as a society we’ve been caught up in achievement and I’m right there with you. I love to check the box, make the grade and win the game. But when we only focus on celebrating the end goal, we miss a million reasons to rejoice and celebrate along the way. We stop to smell the roses in this house. Harper cheers for herself after just about anything she does. She has modeled this celebration so much that her little brother has picked up on it as well. There is always the sound of cheers echoing through our home. This daily celebration is becoming our normal. And it is beautiful.
I love how Harper reminds us to celebrate the everyday seemingly mundane tasks. She knows how to celebrate and I’m thankful for this lesson. It makes life so much sweeter. It makes life so much more fun. And it helps us be in the moment.
From fear to joy
I knew so little about Down syndrome when we received Harper’s diagnosis. I knew soon-to-be-mamas would celebrate when finding out their baby would NOT have Down syndrome. I knew people chose to terminate a pregnancy based on the diagnosis. I knew that they were in special education classes at school. I knew the basic physical characteristics.
But I didn’t know that she would be the most snuggly, squishy baby. I didn’t know the joy of journeying a slower developmental pace. I didn’t know that I would often stare at her face in awe of her beauty. I didn’t know that she would attract people and brighten days with just a smile. I didn’t know how proud I would feel when she took her first steps, used her first sign or went down the big slide on the playground.
The fear comes from the unknown. But I know Harper now. I know that Down syndrome shouldn’t be feared, but should be celebrated.
Celebrating Down syndrome
March 21st is World Down Syndrome Day. Trisomy 21 (more commonly known as Down syndrome) means a person has a third copy of their 21st chromosome, hence the symbolic date of 3/21. It’s a day to bring awareness about Down syndrome, so that it doesn’t need to be feared anymore. It’s a day to celebrate all our favorite homies with extra chromies for the joy they bring into the world. A reminder to embrace a slower pace and enjoy the scenic route.
We will be wearing fun, mismatched socks on March 21st to celebrate Down syndrome. And you are invited too! Post a picture of wearing fun, mismatched socks to social media with the hashtag #HipHipHarperRae and join the celebration!
