Let the Hate Motivate

I try to pay attention to my Facebook News Feed to keep up with my friends and yesterday came across a horrible comment that was sent to a friend, author of the blog: Noah's Dad.  

"With modern medicine there are really no good reasons to bring a person with debilitating chromosomal abnormalities (like your son) into the world."

I don't want to give a platform to an ignorant person like this or perpetuate the hate. I just wanted to speak to a few facts about Down Syndrome and  profess my PRIDE at being a parent of a child with Down Syndrome. 

* Down Syndrome is NOT a debilitating chromosomal abnormality. People with Down Syndrome live happy and productive lives when given the support they need, unique to their situation, just like everyone else.

* There is screening available for Down Syndrome and I opted NOT to take the tests. For one they are horribly inaccurate and there was also no reason or signs that there were any "issue" with my son. I did not need to take the test because regardless of the result I LOVED my baby and I felt that was a GREAT reason to bring my child into this world.

When Blake was first born I had an irrational fear that people would judge, hate on him and hurt him for his perceived differences. I'm sure in some way all mothers have this fear for their children as we all know kids get picked on, called names and hurt by others regardless of the amount of chromosomes they have.  

I wonder now who it is that defines what "Normal" is? Down Syndrome has been part of the human condition since the beginning of time, for a reason. Perhaps people with "chromosomal abnormalities" are here as teachers? Teaching us all to take a look at ourselves. To notice when we do that none of us are perfect.

Blake has taught me more about myself  and those around me than I could have ever imagined. For this I will be eternally grateful to his "chromosomal abnormality". 


I'm always astonished at the fact that any grown adult feels the need to gossip about, make derogatory comments and essentially hate on a beautiful baby like Noah or Blake. It speaks only to their character (or the lack thereof) rather than the ignorant comments themselves.

In life I have found the more successful and happy one truly is the more haters seem to be at your door. Let their hate motivate and not dissuade you from being yourself or following your goals and dreams. I know it won't stop my son Blake. The world is wide open to him and his success will be based on his desire, hard work and perseverance and not on the opinions and judgements of others.

Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference. -Jane Goodall