Panamanian celebrates Mother's day on December 8 because it is the day of the Immaculate Conception. We have a strong influence from the Catholic Faith passed by the Spanish conquerors. The meaning of the Immaculate conception is that Mother Mary was conceived without the original sin. She was chosen by God to be free from the corrupt nature that the original sin brings and with the state of sanctifying grace. In other words, Mary was chosen to be mother of Christ since she was conceived. According to my grandma, Mother Mary was around 15 when she had baby Jesus. So when her son was crucified, she was around 48. I can imagine her pain and emotions, regardless she was chosen, she is a mom as I am. I can imagine how her heart was broken for every nail hammered in her son's body to the point she could feel his pain. But she kept her faith strong and didn't doubt about God's father plan. Mother Mary is the one that shows to me with her example of sacrifice, what motherhood without limits is about.
Thanks to my son's diagnosis, I have met wonderful moms. These moms are also part of the "Motherhood without limits." These wonderful moms have shaped my motherhood. They have showing me what the power of love can do. I haven't personally met some of these moms, but hey have giving me their unconditional support online or on the phone. Regardless their busy lives, they have taken their time to give their advises, show me their teaching techniques and offering me their support. I am grateful with these moms for sharing their wisdom with me to the benefit of my son. I want you to know them, to honor them is this special day to me. Those moms are:
Mrs. Cunningham. I talked to her a couple of times on the phone when I was expecting Tommy. Unfortunately, I lost contact with her. I never met her in person, but she gave me the advise of developing the love for reading in my son. She was the one who recommended to contact Tommy's first pediatrician. I began to read to Tommy since he was in the womb after my first phone conversation with her. Tommy loves for books is amazing, but it comes from Mrs. Cunningham's advise. Everybody at school knows how much he loves books. And lately, I have hear him saying "time to read."
Lianna. My first blogger friend. She showed me how important is teaching our kids to read at a very young age. She is all about inclusion and I love to see pictures of her son who has Down syndrome with his best friend, who is a typical child. This is also what I want for Tommy, I want him to be included and having his own typical friends.
Andi, the writer of Down Syndrome: A Day to Day Guide blog. Her knowledge in supplements to keep her son healthy has inspired me to learn more about my son inmmune system and vitamin therapy. When I contacted her, she contacted other moms to find the answer to my questions without personally knowing me. Her little boy is doing beyond amazing due to her dedication and unconditional love.
Laura, the writer of Down Syndrome: Up, Up and Away blog. She doesn't accept the stereotypes and the odds putting on our kids. She has done a outstanding job with her daughter. Her daugther K is doing great because she is doing things for kid of her age and above. She was the one who introduce me on how to get help for Tommy in a holistic way.
Gina, the writer of Mom-Blog. She is a web designer who works from home. This girl is smart! When I contacted to ask about nutrition, she sent me a great book that became my star point on knowing more about nutrition. I haven't met her and we don't keep in contact so often, but she welcomed me with out knowing me with great advises and encouragement. She has two daughters, one has Mosaic Down Syndrome and the other one has Autism and SPD. But they both are doing remarkable, regardless the labels.
Randa Kay, the writer of Braska Bear and Just RK blogs. Everybody loves her because of her sweet personality. She supported me during my son's firt IEP. She even baked goodies to bring to the IEP meeting. She is our leader in our local Down syndorme group. Her daughter, Braska, is a rock star! At her short age, Braska is a great cheerleader with advanced reading skills for age. Braska and her mom have tought me to keep going and work hard that things will get better.
Melissa R. She is my neighbord. She doesn't know it, but she has teaching me so much. I watch her closely how she discipline her son, who also has Down syndrome, and I apply it at home with Tommy. She always listen to me. Her son is doing outstanding, many things according to his age!
Molly S. She is also my neigbord. I don't see her quite often, but this girl has all the weapons to get what her son's needs throw the IEP. She is very knowledgeable about special education because she is an advocate, a mom of a child with special needs and a special education teacher. So she is a great advisor! Her son has autism and he is doing amazing, I personally cannot tell there is something different on him.
They are two moms am very grateful to have in my life. They are my mom and my mother-in-law.
My mom. She have taught me to accept everybody for who they are, not for how much the have or how they look. She taught never make fun of other people's disadvantages, including people with disabilities. She have taught me to fight for a better future. She is the most honest and lovely person I have ever met. As a grandmother, she just is full of joy because she is proud of his two amazing grandsons. She has never seen Tommy's diagnosis first because she always sees the amazing child he is first. My mom has always find away to communicate with Tommy regardless his communication barriers. On the other hand with Francis, she couldn't be here when he was born. She met him a year later, but she was always talking to him through Skype. When they finally met, it was like she was here with him all the time. While she was visiting, one day I took the boys for a walk, but my mom stayed at the house. Francis felt something was missing, so he went back looking for her and brought her to walk with him. We are so blessed to have her in our lives!
My Mother-in-law. Since my husband and I were dating, she knew I was the one for her son. She always reminds us how important is that we take time for ourselves as a couple, regardless everything we have in our hands. She is right! She sees for everything we are going thru and she always find a way to help us. She is always doing all kind of activities with the boys and telling stories to them. So I created a special area for her in our house full of books, felt board stories, poppets and stuffed animals to animate her stories. One quality I have learned from her is to bring out the child's spirit that it is on all of us, regardless the age. This is crucial for tommy's therapies.
Happy Mothers day to my Aunts, cousins, Friends and all Panamanian Moms and non-Panamanians, too!
My mom. She have taught me to accept everybody for who they are, not for how much the have or how they look. She taught never make fun of other people's disadvantages, including people with disabilities. She have taught me to fight for a better future. She is the most honest and lovely person I have ever met. As a grandmother, she just is full of joy because she is proud of his two amazing grandsons. She has never seen Tommy's diagnosis first because she always sees the amazing child he is first. My mom has always find away to communicate with Tommy regardless his communication barriers. On the other hand with Francis, she couldn't be here when he was born. She met him a year later, but she was always talking to him through Skype. When they finally met, it was like she was here with him all the time. While she was visiting, one day I took the boys for a walk, but my mom stayed at the house. Francis felt something was missing, so he went back looking for her and brought her to walk with him. We are so blessed to have her in our lives!
My Mother-in-law. Since my husband and I were dating, she knew I was the one for her son. She always reminds us how important is that we take time for ourselves as a couple, regardless everything we have in our hands. She is right! She sees for everything we are going thru and she always find a way to help us. She is always doing all kind of activities with the boys and telling stories to them. So I created a special area for her in our house full of books, felt board stories, poppets and stuffed animals to animate her stories. One quality I have learned from her is to bring out the child's spirit that it is on all of us, regardless the age. This is crucial for tommy's therapies.
Happy Mothers day to my Aunts, cousins, Friends and all Panamanian Moms and non-Panamanians, too!
Today is a day to celebrate Motherhood without limits!
1 comment:
Wow, this is so sweet! Thank you, Rosa, for such a nice treat today. I'm so behind on everything, especially blogs, but I am so glad I took a minute to check in on yours. Made my day!!!
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