A few years ago, my dear friend Sarah and her boys were visiting our home for the day, a rare…
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disability
Will Down Syndrome Be In Heaven?
A few months ago my ten year-old asked, “Will Sam have Down syndrome in heaven?” I didn’t know then and…
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More Than ‘Seeker-Friendly’: When People with Disabilities Belong in the Local Church
As a lifelong pew-sitter in the Baptist Church, I grew up hearing an evangelistic message nearly every Sunday. Church wasn’t…
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When A Diagnosis Determines Your Worth
If you Google ‘Down syndrome’, you’ll find pages of online organizations and dictionaries that provide both general and specific definitions….
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Lessons from Sam #3: Welcome everyone.
Our diverse world provides countless ways to look at life. In certain communities and with certain individuals, various beliefs and…
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Imagine a World without Down Syndrome
Recently, our family sat around the dinner table marveling at Sam, our toddler who happens to have Down syndrome. His…
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![When I think back to the early months of motherhood, those bleary-eyed, overwhelming days (nights?) of colic and learning the needs of my first born, I can hardly believe we're here.
The toddler who traipsed around in Huggies and heels, singing made-up tunes and chatting with her hilarious imaginary friend, Lackey, outgrew my heels two years ago. And for the past year, I've been looking up to her--literally.
The longer I parent, the more I discover this gift to be one long, winding road of learning to let go. From the moment she said, "My do it, Mommy," I knew we had begun to leave the days of her tiny hand snuggled in mine.
And while I know these seasons of greater independence are part of her journey, I'm still surprised when they arrive with another milestone at my door, another invitation to release. Some days I ache to hold on just a little longer.
Happy 17th, Sissy.
You're a gift to our home, to your friends, to this aching world.
[ID: A white teen girl with brown hair in 2 braids, wearing black leggings and a black hoodie, is walking in the woods. Sun beams are coming through the trees as she walks away from the camera.]
#Parenting #LettingGo](https://i0.wp.com/www.katiecarper.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png?ssl=1)