By KAT ABIANAC
It’s too all easy to have fears for your child’s future when you’re a parent. But what do those fears become, when one of your children has a disability?
My toddler son Parker has Down syndrome. I found out at birth. I try not to be scared for the future, and I do a pretty good job – I am also lucky he is so healthy and strong.
After his birth, I made it my mission to seek out examples of what I want for his future, and write about them.
I find my rainbows, and I polish and nurture them whenever I need to keep the end goal in sight- successfully parenting two healthy, happy children, living the most typical life they can and riding the highs and lows together.
In my brief travels throughout the fascinating Down syndrome community, I found a rainbow. Her name is Kate Owens. I interviewed her, and asked her what she wanted to say to other parents out there who may have fears for the future. Here is her story.
Kate got married three years ago, and is busy loving life. I asked Kate to share some things about herself, as well as her newlywed marriage experience.
Kate and Steve Owens on their wedding day.
“How did I meet my husband? We met at a local disco in 2007. He bought me a drink and we danced.. I told mum about him after!
Our first date was out for lunch. It was chucking it down with rain, so we had to share my umbrella – and we kissed.
Steve proposed at a charity ball in Bristol. He stopped the DJ playing music, got down on one knee in the middle of the dance floor and proposed. Everyone cheered when I said yes! Steve is 35 years old, and it was my 30th birthday in August. I had a big party with a disco.
What do I like the most about being a wife? I like being a wife because I can boss him around!! Not really, it’s changed my life forever, it means everything.
What do we enjoy doing together? We like going to our clubs, and the gym and church, but everything really.
I want to say to mums of young girls who have Down syndrome, and the girls themselves – You can meet a man that’s right for you, and enjoy your life.
Down Syndrome shouldn’t stop you doing what you want to do.
This post originally appeared here on Kat’s blog and is republished with permission. You can find out more about Kat and her son Parker on her blog, www.parkermyles.com, and Facebook page Parker’s place.
Kate and Steve Kate and Steve Kate and Steve Kate and Steve Kate and Steve Kate and Steve Kate Owens Wedding Day
Top Comments
I am very happy for Kate and that her life is going so well for her. There are many different levels of downs syndrome and not all with this condition are so high functioning. I have a wide experience with those with disabilities having a son that attends day programs with others with a variety of disabilities many of them with downs. Many of these people will never live by themselves, work or have relationships but that doesn't mean its not possible for some and for those I am happy.
However, disabilities are not restricted to those people who have Down syndrome. There are many different levels of all of these disabilities with low and high functioning abilities....your comment came across as being very passive aggressive. The article was designed to be uplifting and show that people with Down syndrome can lead close to normal lives, not remind people that many of them may not achieve this outcome :( .
Inexplicably must people would choose to abort a down syndrome baby and every pregnant woman is offered a test purely for that purpose. We have it all backwards.
And why is choice such a awful thing?