My kid may not look quite like your kid...

My kid may not look quite like your kid...

Where your kid has on baseball socks and cleats, my kid has on AFO braces and shoes wide enough to fit the braces.

Where your kid is running around kicking dust up in the field or running the bases, my kid has his walker.

While your kid looks adorable with their cute helmet decal, my kid is getting double takes when people notice features that appear “different.”

While your kid is waving and talking to you on the sidelines, my kid is turning to sign to me as I prepare to help him bat.

Those are some of the ways our kids differ, but let me tell you how our kids are the same. Our kids both want to go out there, play, and have fun.

Our kids both look to us as parents to make sure we are watching, that we are proud of them.

So my kid might not be quite like your kid and that’s okay.

So while you see my son not walking and you notice features that give clues to his diagnosis of Down syndrome, know that in many ways our kids are still the same. Both crave social interaction, the fun of playing, and the love and support of their families.

They are both out there having fun and both are more than likely more excited for the after game snack.

Comments

My letter to Alex Gordon

Alex, I wanted to share a few pictures with you that show why I'm writing to thank you. You see my three year old, Kaden, knows more about baseball and the Royals than many adults I know. He loves as he would put it "all of the Royals" but without a doubt, without any hesitation when asked who is his favorite player is his answer is always one player; you. I'm not kidding when I say Gordo was one of his first words. In fact anything baseball for the longest time was called Gordo. I'm not exactly sure why he took such a liking to you. I joke it's because his first ever game at the K and you hit a grand slam when he was not even a year old. For what ever reason he adores you. He even has a little Gordo plush doll that he likes to take everywhere. This past year has been the toughest year for our family. Our second son, Kaleb, was born 12 weeks early at 2lb 2oz. We also learned of his diagnosis of Down syndrome two days after his birth. He spent...

Home

Sitting here in Kaleb's nursery rocking him I look around his room and think about how many people have contributed to his room. How incredibly loved he is. I look at the decals I searched for and then put up with the help of his daddy. The chair I am sitting in given to us by Heather who sometime soon I will trust to oversee his care during the day. The little bear on the nightstand that Haley helped me pick out for him before we left the NICU. On the bookshelf sits the Curious George from Nana. I also see the Panda bear from Rance, Jessica, and Heath. Baskets purchased while shopping with Courtney. Even the cart that his Grammy and Gramps found so that we could put all of his medical equipment on so that we could wheel it around the house. Everything in his room all the way down to the baseboards and doors finished by Daddy and Dalton were a work of love as we prepared the room for our little K2. The NICU family print that will soon be on the wall above his dresser, signed by th...

Inchestones can be big milestones

There are times when having a child with differing needs and abilities can be seen more than other times. Going to a big event such as MLB games can be one. Last night Kaleb was overwhelmed with the crowd, noise, and the overall experience. We spent more time walking him around in his stroller than at his stadium seat. Then he and I opted to watch the fireworks from the van while we listened to his playlist and I held his hands. But he watched and was able to experience from where he felt safer. However, there are two things that TJ and I both loved and silently celebrated. 1- was being able to have him walk to/into Kauffman Stadium. He’s never been able to do that. 2- (and my favorite) was watching him bat at The Little K. It’s something I wondered if he would ever do. We have countless videos and pictures of Kaden batting and running the bases, but I didn’t know if or when we would have some of Kaleb. Last night even though he was overwhelmed being all of the people and noi...

Amanda Dickinson

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