October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. In honor of the month I have made my own montage of Emily Perl Kingsley's poem, "Welcome to Holland." This is a poem that was given to me a few weeks after Joe was born and is well-known in the Down Syndrome community. Many other people have made similar montages that you can find on You Tube. Lots of people reference "Holland" when talking about parenting kids with special needs. For example, Jennifer Graf Groneberg's new book, "Road Map to Holland." I can't say that I have always liked this poem, but it reflects some of my feelings and some of the conversations that I have had recently.
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5 comments:
It is a very positive spin on raising a child with special needs isn't it? I agree with most of it, but is there a part of Holland where it is down and dirty and raw? cause they leave that part out! I enjoyed this though.
"Welcome to Holland" was very helpful to us early on. Life with a child who has Down syndrome is the best.
6 months after Josh was born with Down syndrome, I attended my first parent group. I was touched by the struggle people were having with “why?” I went to bed with a heavy heart and awoke with this story. I hope you enjoy it.
http://tinyurl.com/secretjourney
Thank you, Amy. Love Tutu
Amy,
This is beautiful. I shared it with some special friends whom I meet with each week. I love how it's a story about the challenge we all have to not be "stuck" in our discontent with unmet expectations, but to find the treasure that has already found us. And that it is also a story about Joe. Wonderful, unexpected, beautiful Joe.
love,
Beth
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