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Author Archives: elizamom
What I am afraid of
I usually enjoy going through the stack of schoolwork and colorful drawings that come home in my son’s Friday folder at the end of each week. I weed through the papers and pick one or two save-worthy examples that show … Continue reading
Posted in Fear, Joy and Pain, Motherhood, Parenting Special Needs, Stress
Tagged 31 for 21, Autumn, Halloween, health issues, resilience, small moments of joy
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Be Open to Yes
To celebrate World Down Syndrome Day (3/21 for three copies of the 21st chromosome), I am sharing a speech I gave at my synagogue during a Jewish Disabilities Awareness and Inclusion event about something I live for: Including people with disabilities. Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Community, Down syndrome, Joy and Pain, Parenting Special Needs
Tagged #JDAIM18, #WDSD18, community inclusion, Down Syndrome
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Owning what divides us
My 10-year-old tells me he likes attending Friday night services at our synagogue because of the cookies served afterward. Despite his eating more than the two or three treats we’ve agree on beforehand, I’m glad he’s also digesting important lessons … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Community
Tagged ADL, Autumn, citizenship, civil rights, Colorado, community inclusion, hate, Jewish holidays, Lafayette, leadership, resilience, responsibility, swastika
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Unwasted time
I couldn’t get phone messages all summer. Instead I got annoyed texts telling me my voicemail box was full. Yeah, I know, my phone needed my attention. But it had to compete with activities and hours of planning for my … Continue reading
Posted in Confession, Family time, Motherhood, Parenting Special Needs, Time Crunch
Tagged Family time, small moments of joy, working mom
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Head games
Euphoric. That was my feeling after Forrest Walker (yes, that’s his real name) treated me post-concussion. His simple touch on my abdomen, chest, thigh and head magically shifted the intangible energy within my body in indefinable ways. A fluid sense … Continue reading
Posted in Confession, Family time, Joy and Pain, Motherhood
Tagged Colorado, head injury, resilience, skiing, small moments of joy, snowboarding
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Finding heart in darkness
We humans are fascinated with negativity, with vitriol, the dark side. Good versus evil sells at the movies and plays out everywhere from politics to interpersonal relations. Lookyloos actually click on terrorist videos of beheadings. Hate is spewed everywhere there … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Down syndrome, Parenting Special Needs
Tagged childcare, Colorado, community inclusion, small moments of joy
1 Comment
On a lighter note… (31 for 21)
Someone got a hair cut. Happy middle of Down syndrome awareness month! Not quite 31 for 21. In honor of Down syndrome awareness month, I am posting to this blog nowhere near every day for 31 days to increase awareness … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Down syndrome
Tagged #DSAM2015, 31 for 21, Down Syndrome, small moments of joy
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Be very afraid (31 for 21)
Infuriating. That’s how it feels to be told “No.” In not quite these words, my city’s recreation department said: No, we don’t want your child’s kind. We don’t want to do what it takes to include him in our program. … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Down syndrome, Parenting Special Needs
Tagged #DSAM2015, 31 for 21, Autumn, Down Syndrome, working mom
13 Comments
Brotherly love (31 for 21)
The expansive love a new mother feels cannot be described. Perhaps only one who has given birth can get what it’s like to have such tremendous affection for another being. Motherhood increases the capacity of one’s heart so deeply, so … Continue reading
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