RECENT POSTS
S7 E6 | How to Become a Worry-Free Parent with Sissy Goff, LPC-MHSP
Apple YouTube Spotify More! Anxious parents. Anxious families. Anxiety is contagious. How do I know if I’m an anxious parent? And if I am one,
What if I Feel Guilty as a Parent Because My Child Has a Disability?
What if I feel guilty as a parent because of my child’s disability? I was asked this question a few weeks ago when I was
Friendship Forms Durable Hope
What do I do? People in my family received a terminal diagnosis for their child. What do I do? A woman recently emailed me this
Stepping Off the Ladder of Comparison
I’ve been writing about Penny for a long time now. Along the way, I’ve often written of her accomplishments. The cuteness of hearing her pronounce
S7 E5 | Finding Hope in the Dark with Curt Thompson, MD
Apple YouTube Spotify More! How do we show up for each other in the midst of pain? Is it possible to hope when we’re suffering?
Penny in Her Own Words: What I Want You to Know About My Life
What does life for a 17-year-old with Down syndrome look like? In case you’re curious, I asked Penny a few questions about her life as
Small Talk Turns 9
“Limitations, properly understood, lead to love.” I don’t always live as though I believe those words. I would often like to overcome limitations rather than
COGNOSCENTI | The future I imagine for my daughter
The future is uncertain. After high school, should Penny go to a community college? Will she be segregated and only socialize with peers with intellectual
Penny in Her Own Words: Inclusion and High School Senior Project
What does inclusion look like for a senior with Down syndrome at our local public school? Here’s one example, in her own words, from an
Friendship: Judgment and Jealousy or Celebration and Compassion
I learned early on in Penny’s life that if I spent my days comparing her to other kids, I would find myself in a place
4 Ways to Deal with Brokenness
The world feels shattered. Some days I feel shattered. What do we do with all our broken pieces? I’ve found that there are four ways
S7 E4 | Breaking Down Bias: Prenatal Diagnoses and Comprehensive Care with Stephanie Meredith
Apple YouTube Spotify More! What happens when women receive a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome? How does that diagnosis affect those women and their families?
Penny in Her Own Words: Dear Parent, Congrats!
This summer at Camp PALS, Penny had a chance to write a letter to a new parent of a baby with Down syndrome as a
Trouble with Podcasting Set-Up
Visuals are not my forte. As a result, I love podcasting. Theoretically, it only involves words. And that’s what I always tell myself until about
Never Enough
“Not good enough.” It’s a phrase that shows up in my head uninvited, with regularity. (And yes, for those of you wondering, I am
Penny in Her Own Words: Working at The Po Cafe
Penny had a chance to work at a local cafe for a few weeks in August and on Saturdays in September. She loved every minute
Esteem Without Ego
“I’m really good at drawing.” It’s a very matter-of-fact statement made by Emily, a participant in the show Down for Love. She knows that this
Life’s Raging River
The rains have been intense around here lately. And these days our life as a family feels uncomfortably like this river. I’m wondering whether we
Spiritual Practices Are Not About Performing for God
About twenty years ago, I had the opportunity to attend a free yoga class called “Yoga for All.” It was designed for beginners. No experience
Five Years of White Picket Fences
Once, when I was speaking at a church, I was introduced as an “expert on privilege.” The person introducing me didn’t mean that I’ve done
S7 E3 | Netflix’s Down for Love with Robyn Paterson
Apple YouTube Spotify More! Have you watched the new show on Netflix called Down for Love? It’s a reality dating show for people with Down syndrome,
