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

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They say it takes a village to raise kids. When trying for and planning for kids I never imagined my village would include so many medical professionals. I also could not have pictured a group of women, most of which I have never met, who I would feel so connected with and who would play such a big part in my support system. This group of women who call themselves Rockin Moms. One day while sitting in the NICU I posted in a Facebook preemie group about how lonely the NICU journey could be and doubly for a parent with not only a very premature baby, but with a baby who also happens to have Down syndrome. I was about to receive my first lesson on just how not lonely it was. A mother told me about the organization called DSDN (Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network) who has these Facebook groups. The full name of the group is Mothers of a child Rockin an extra chromosome. Groups and group members commonly referred to as Rockin Moms. By the end of the day I was a part of a community of moms tha

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Amanda Dickinson

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