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http://www.stockfreeimages.com/ How a memory of a tent helps me work through my fear of disability I have this memory of a tent.  At the time I don’t think I was aware of the word ‘disability.’ I don’t know when it happened, although I know that our family was still living on the other side of Michigan, the Detroit side, so I had to be younger than seven. It’s a fuzzy memory, more like a feeling. When
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(The following post was written by my oldest daughter, Elaina who is 11 years old. I’d love for you to leave her a comment. She’s excited to be guest posting :)). I wanted to write a post for my mom’s website. She said it has to be 500 hundred words or something like that so here goes. Life with sisters who have Down syndrome Evie is really growing up! She is louder and likes to
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(I was looking through Evangeline’s special needs adoption blog today and stumbled upon the post “You’re doing it wrong.” Evie’s been home for almost three years.) But there are still days that I feel like I’m doing this whole special needs adoption thing wrong. I struggle with mom guilt. This post is from Evangeline’s special needs adoption blog archives: September, 2009 just after we brought Evangeline home from Ukraine. *** Evangeline’s three sisters; Elaina, -
Download 10 special needs of special needs parents free PDF for personal use! Use this resource to: Email or print out and give to a friend Share with your church or school Wallpaper the Target bathroom?? 🙂 If you choose to add this list to a publication (i.e. newsletter, handout, etc.), please email me at gillianmarchenko@gmail.com. I’d like you to include a quick bio from me and some linky love. Enjoy!! 10 Special Needs of Special
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15 Responses
beautiful and has given me an idea for my own post. thanks for conjuring up an old memory.
Thank you Cindy, for reading, and hooray for inspiration!
Hi Gillian,
I was moved by your candor. I, too, have a child with Down syndrome. Until I gave birth to him, I had very little interaction with people with DS. I can relate to being in a tent or what I called an isolated bubble. I would love to follow you on twitter. Blessings, Joanne
Hi Joanne! thanks for finding me and commenting! I’m @GillianMarchenk on Twitter and would love to connect with you too.
Do you have a blog? Let’s keep in touch!
gillian
wonderful. this brings up old memories…amazing how God prepares us for life…with MANY experiences. you are a blessing to me! thank you for your wonderful writing! 🙂
Thanks Grace :). Yes, God did a lot in my life to prepare me to parent kids with special needs. Amazing!
Beautiful post, Gillian. I love how you conjure the memories of your childhood experience so vividly. I once posted about how disability played more of a part in my early memories than I’d thought, once I really started thinking about it, digging deep. I think those early memories really resonate, help us to build on who we are today, laying some of the groundwork in some way for how we view and parent our children, how we envision their futures.
I totally agree, Becca. Thanks for your comment. 🙂
Beautifully written. I’m really loving this topic
Me too! Thanks Shannon!
I like your idea of a tent. How it protects you from the outside world or at least gives you the feeling of being safe even though a storm could take that away. We were in a tent. I have a 7 week old who was born with Down Syndrome. Even though I am still unsure how to handle things at this stage when I go out I notice a lot of other families with a disabled child. How did I never notice it before? I guess the answer is I saw what I wanted to see, but this storm has taken away my safety and maybe I didn’t really need it in the first place.
Ellen, thank you for finding my blog. Hang in there. Those first few months are such a difficult time. I’d love to support you in any way I can. I wrote a blog post to new moms of kids with Down syndrome. Love for you to read it.
http://www.gillianmarchenko.com/to-the-new-mother-to-a-baby-with-down-syndrome/
Here for you.
gillian
Stunning.
Thanks Leah 🙂
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