River was 6 months old when we learnt that he had had Down syndrome, and although he was slightly delayed in typical milestone he was pretty much keeping up with his peers. He smiled, rolled over, lifted his head up, laughed and sat up at near typical times and although he was late, there were no huge delays. It was easy to convince myself and believe that it would always be this way and that his extra chromosome wouldn’t significantly hinder his life. It may hold him back slightly but actually, he’d keep on developing right alongside his peers.
And then he didn’t.
As River has gotten older his delays have become more apparent and it’s very clear that he has a learning disability, this is extremely common with Down syndrome. The delays become more obvious with age and the gap between their peers will widen. Don’t get me wrong, he is thriving and doing fantastic, but alongside other children his age you can see the development differences. He may have started crawling at 12 months, but he didn’t take his first step until he was 2.5. He may have said his first words before his first birthday, but now at nearly 3 he only has about 20 words. He can jump, run, ride a scooter, whizz about on his bike and climb like a monkey, but he does so while wobbling about like a young toddler. He’s fantastic and thriving yes, but realistically he is underdeveloped for his age.
Now believe it or not it doesn’t make me feel sad, it’s not something that particularly worries me. I certainly don’t lose any sleep over it. I can’t even really explain why, but I guess I just believe he’ll be whoever he is meant to be and do whatever he is meant to do. I understand when is hurts other parents to see their children not doing the same things as others their age, it brings it home that they are different and that their lives will be affected due to Down syndrome. That’s hard to take for any parent and one of the biggest challenges of having a child with a learning disability. I’m just personally ok with it, I have many other worries but this isn’t one of them. My closest friend has twins a few weeks older than River and I’ve never felt a pang of jealousy, and I’ve never looked at how brilliantly they’re doing and feel sad for River. They are beautiful, smart and wonderful children, but so is River. He’s just different, and that’s ok.
I guess in a way, when River was a baby I convinced myself that Down syndrome wasn’t really going to affect him too much at all. This was helped by the fact that he didn’t have any health complications at all and we’d never had to face any medical interventions. He has also never had any therapies so this isn’t an area that highlights his differences. River was going be this big example of somebody with Down syndrome living a ‘normal’ life. He was going to have independence and achieve so much that he would shock the world. He was going to defy experts and prove the world wrong about the abilities of people with Down syndrome. I was going to work as hard as I possibly could to mould him into some kind of superstar, squashing the odds stacked against him. He was going to be the smartest, most able person with Down syndrome ever to have lived.
And then he wasn’t.
Do you know what though? It really doesn’t matter. Rivers delays may have become more obvious, but it’s also become more obvious that he is an incredible child. River is not defined by his achievements, he doesn’t become a better child with Down syndrome if he can do more. That’s a whole load of pressure to place on any child and also on ourselves as parents. Our children do not have to be the best and it’s unfair on everyone to expect or even want that. River isn’t here to prove the world wrong about the abilities of those with Down syndrome. He isn’t here to prove himself worthy of societies respect because he can live alone or pass exams. He isn’t here to prove that communities should accept him because he can hold down a job or get married. River’s only duty to the world is to be himself and show the world that our abilities, success, appearance and wealth do not define us as people, our actions do. How we treat others and what we bring to society is what we should be praised for, not our possessions and status.
I’m only a short distance into our journey with Down syndrome, but I’ve already learnt so much along the way. My biggest lesson by far is that River is going to be exactly who he is meant to be, and whatever he does or doesn’t achieve in his life does not make him any less of a person. Whether he is able to have any kind of independence does not make him any more worthy than somebody who doesn’t, and his academic ability will not make him a better or worse person than any other student. I will guide him, nurture him, teach him, advise him and adore him, and I will do my very best to help River be the very best person that he can possibly be. For himself. Not to prove people wrong, but for himself.
What I won’t do is rate any of my children as more or less due to intelligence, careers, wealth, possessions and skills. I’ll be saving that for their passion, their kindness, their bravery, their hard work, their determination and their ability to love and make people smile. Those are the things the world needs more of and those are the things that will make me proud. Always.
I have no way of knowing what River’s life will be like as he grows up, I have no way of looking into the future and seeing the man he will become. What I do know, is that he will be brilliant. Whatever happens, whatever path his life takes, whatever he achieves and whatever he chooses, he will be brilliant.
I am River 
This is a beautiful post. You’re beautiful little lad will have his own unique set of skills. His smile will light a room, his warmth and kindness will make anyone that knows him feel they are better people for knowing him. These are things that I so often hear said about the guys I support and it is so true.
On a side note, it is being recognised now that children with Downs take a lot longer to achieve educational milestones, but with the right support a large percentage can learn to read, write, etc.
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Thanks very much Tracy and River really does light up a room. He’s a joy. And you’re right, I read stories everyday of people with ds achieving all sorts of amazing things. I guess the point is that many won’t, and they are just as worthy of respect. Thanks for commenting and the support you are giving x x
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Well said. I’ve been there. My son who is dual diagnosed with autism and Down Syndrome, is also non verbal. When he was little he was only about 6mo to a year behind his peers. He had a few words and signed. Now…. He’s 7 , still not potty trained and learning a speech device. And honestly I miss the days when DS was our only challenge. I love him very much but worry tons about his future when I’m gone. Yet his heart is so good and I’m totally proud of him for that. He’s funny, loving and determined.
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It’s so hard isn’t it? But you sound like you’re a fantastic mother and your son is lucky for that x
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I absolutely love this! River looks like quite a dude and he is already being brilliant. I sat down this morning feeling tired, with the weight of a heavy day ahead, and he has improved my day with that smile of his.
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Oh thanks! Yep that smile certainly brightens my days to, even when hes being a whirlwind of mischief haha. Thanks for a lovely comment and hope your day turned out ok x
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Such a wonderful,y positive post, that I am sure will give hope to so very many people. River is adorable x
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I really hope it does, it can be so hard for parents when they just want what’s best for their children. Thanks for reading and for a lovely comment x x
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This has to be the best post I have ever read, I don’t know if it is because I work with young children and have worked with number of children with Down syndrome but I was touched by this post.
I love that you are showing other parents that having a child with down syndrome does not completely change the way you view parenthood and you do not worry on how far behind he may be in development compared to others because you are still able to see how he is developing at his own pace.
Please keep us up to date with his developments because hat little cheeky smile is definitely someone you want to see grow up to be an amazing little boy!
Abigail – abigaildesires.com
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Thanks so much for an amazing comment, genuinely means a lot when people understand. Don’t worry, Rivers mischievous antics will always be shared haha, he’s quite a character x x
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***Jumps from her seat in standing ovation**
“River’s only duty to the world is to be himself and show the world that our abilities, success, appearance and wealth do not define us as people, our actions do.” Yes to this, my friend!
All well said.
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That’s such a big compliment, thanks so much and I’m so glad you enjoyed it x x
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Thank you for saying the words I was thinking! I also thought the same, until I couldn’t or didn’t. And River is so very cute!! Have a wonderful week!
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Thanks very much and hope you have a great week yourself x
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Love love love this Hayley! X
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Thank you! This one means a lot to me x x
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I can identify with so many of these feelings and thoughts and also arriving at a blissful place of acceptance. Thank you for joining up with the #TeamT21 linky over on Downs Side Up for #WDSD2018
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Lovely piece. It brought back so many memories of where we were with Bruce at that age and the determination to just make sure he was what he wanted to be and to give him our utmost support in that. Despite him trying to join the Navy via the Internet (that’s a whole other story, heading him off when he got dressed in his army fatigues to go join the local TA, calling the police on 999, whilst we were shopping and his sister was upstairs, to say he’d been abandoned, we have a brilliant young man who is very capable, funny, loving, considerate, compassionate and a decent human being.
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