Would I have loved them more or less if they were not born with Down syndrome?

Would I have loved them more or less if they were not born with Down syndrome?

Would they be happier or better if they didn’t have this extra chromosome?

These questions may generate a great discussion between those who have a child with special needs and those who do not, the truth is that it’s absolutely possible to find happiness while living with a disability, or raising a child with one.

Breaking the prejudice is essential to start seeing life from another perspective, to celebrate its miracle and to find the tools to believe in different ways of living and loving.

As the mother of two kids with Down syndrome, I know that sometimes the future seems scary.

Because as parents: We may feel overwhelmed when we try to look at the future from where we stand today.

However, all these years have taught me many things:

– The only thing I can do is to focus on the present

– Give them a typical life without limitations

– Never deprive them, under the guise of protecting them, of the natural opportunity to learn from their triumphs and mistakes.

And, in the hardest times of life, when I have felt lost and insecure about the future, I have learned the most important lesson:

– The problem is not their disability or their extra chromosome; it is instead my lack of faith in myself and in love.

Everything starts in our hearts, and from the way we perceive the ones we love.

I don’t know how they would have been if they were not born with Down syndrome, but I know how they are now, and I love and accept them just the way they are. They do the same with me.

Sometimes people think that loving a child with special needs is a heroic act. But loving your own child is nothing out of the ordinary. It is natural, motivating, and the reason why we evolve as individuals to become parents.

I guess the most important lesson is: To understand that love can’t ever be underestimated. Once we get that, everything else seems clearer—even the questions we were afraid to ask and the answers we were afraid to ponder.

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Eliana Tardío

Líder Hispana A Favor de la Diversidad at Vivir con Pasión, Compasión y Estilo

Eliana Tardío es la mamá de Emir y Ayelén; ambos con síndrome de Down. Reconocida por su trabajo promoviendo la inclusión natural de las personas por su individualidad, Eliana ha sida reconocida por celebridades como Araceli Arámbula, Thalia, María Celeste Arrarás, Karen Martínez, y más. Su historia ha sido compartida por las cadenas mundiales más importantes: Univisión, Telemundo, CNN, y Azteca América. Nombrada Bloguera Latina Inspiración 2014 en USA, en este espacio Eliana comparte sus vivencias y recursos con más de 200.000 visitantes al mes.

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