T21Mom-A Down Syndrome Podcast

Join Mary, Ainsley and Dennis on an epic journey to the Paris Olympics! This week's episode dives into the highs (and hurdles) of making it to Paris, from battling extreme motion sickness to a last-minute dead iPad.  But once they arrived, the Games were an unforgettable adventure!   From the pool to the trampoline, and track to race walking, Mary covers it all! Get an insider's view on a jam-packed schedule that brought her up close with the world's greatest athletes.  Hear Mary's thrilling accounts of iconic races, including the electric men's 100 metre final, Canada's unforgettable gold in the 4x100 metre relay, and cheering on Canadian stars Mo Ahmed and Marco Arop in track. When they weren't at the Games Mary, Ainsley and Dennis explored some of Paris's most iconic sights, including the Eiffel Tower and the Champs Elysees.  Mary describes seeing the iconic Mona Lisa up close at the Louvre and other memorable moments around the city of lights.

In this episode of T21Mom, Mary opens up about the significance of "Rocktober"-a special month for Down Syndrome Awareness.  She discusses her personal approach to celebrating this important month and candidly shares the struggles she faces, including feeling guilty for not being fully engaged in the festivities.  Despite her deep passion for advocacy, Mary talks about the exhaustion that sometimes comes with it, and how advocating can feel like a never-ending journey. Mary also highlights some of the amazing ways other Rockin' Moms are celebrating and advocating during Rocktober, offering inspiration and ideas for those looking to get involved.  Tune in to hear how you can make a difference this month, whether you're fully embracing Rocktober or finding your own unique way to contribute.  For more details, visit T21Mom.com

Join Mary in today's episode as she shares her personal journey through challenging times and the importance of self-care.  In this episode, Mary opens up about the struggles that she faced when Ainsley started kindergarten, managing difficult behaviours and how she found her way back to focusing on her own well-being.  Discover the tools that helped Mary through her hardest moments, from therapy to her "happy pill," and hear her heartfelt message to other special needs moms-you are not alone.  Mary talks about the power of connection, sharing her experience with the Rockin Moms Retreat and how it transformed her life by bonding with other moms. She shares the importance of finding your community, whether in person or online, and how it can make all the difference on this journey.

In today's episode, we hear Melissa Miller's emotional story of how she received her son Hunter's Down syndrome diagnosis, which had a heartbreaking beginning.  A doctor stood at the door of her hospital room , told her the news in the most impersonal way, and even suggested that no one would judge her if she left her baby at the hospital.  This shocking experience was just 10 years ago, and sadly, similar stories are still  happening today.  But Melissa turned this negativity into strength and love for her son and hear how this negative experience lit a fire under her. Follow us on Facebook at T21Mom and I'm also on Instagram at Trisomy21Momma  Become part of the community at T21Mom.com Thanks for listening and being part of the Tribe!

Summer is over and school is back in session! Mary shares about the return to school and Ainsley going into grade 7-her final year of elementary school.  Mary talks about their wins, but also her trepidations and anxiousness over the coming school year and beyond.