In Her Own Words: Penny on Being a Bridesmaid
Penny and I got to be bridesmaids together last weekend in my sister’s wedding. I’m going to let Penny tell you about it in her own words, but first I…
The Ordinary Goodness of a Life with Down Syndrome, Even Now
Our daughter Penny is 14. She loves Taylor Swift and Fuller House and the Yankees. She betrays many signs of becoming a typical teenager: she groans when I wake her…
What Having a Baby with Down Syndrome Taught Me About Distraction, Fear, and Love
When our daughter was diagnosed with Down syndrome, we felt fear for her future, but love carried us all. I’m increasingly convinced that one of the things that keeps us…
Teaching Students About Inclusion and Belonging
Teaching students about inclusion and belonging gives them a more expansive view of humanity. Because of advances in special education, many kids today are growing up with more openness to…
#11: Shame and Glory
Episode #11: Shame and Glory — In the moment, which we now call “the Annunciation,” Mary said "yes" to both shame and glory, writes poet Luci Shaw. I don’t think…
5 Bible Passages for Parents of Children with Down Syndrome
I’ve written several posts (like this one) on themes related to disability recently in honor of Down Syndrome Awareness Month. WORKSHOP I'd also love for you to check out my…
Scary Mommy Post: When My Daughter Wanted to Quit Dance Class, We Did This Instead
So my daughter wanted to quit dance class, and I wrote about it for Scary Mommy. You may already be familiar with the Scary Mommy website and/or social media. The…
Summer Rewind: Learning what happiness is (and isn’t) from my daughter with Down syndrome
I started thinking about the words in 1 Corinthians 13--Paul's famous passage about the nature of love--many years ago when Penny was first born. I started to understand what Paul…
Why I Won’t Tell You What Happened When Penny, Our Daughter with Down Syndrome, Went to the Middle School Dance
I've read a few comments over the years about how parents stop writing about their kids with disabilities once they are out of the elementary years. Some people suggested…
Is the Word “Buddy” Helpful in Programs for Kids with Disabilities?
The word "buddy" comes up a lot in programs for people with disabilities. When Penny was a toddler, our church said they'd like to get a "buddy" in the classroom…
