To Liara, here are 5 things I hope you grow up to know & understand.
You Can Achieve Anything:
Baby girl, you can accomplish absolutely anything you wish. Don’t let the textbook define what you can and can’t do. They don’t really know anything as you’ve taught us already. If you want to be a model you can damn well be that model. If you want to achieve A* across school that’s precisely what we’ll help you achieve. Not everyone understands that Trisomy 21 doesn’t define you but I’ll tell you something it’s not and never will hold you back. You reach for those goals and we’ll be by your side every step of the way.
You Are Beautiful & Clever:
You are the most beautiful, kind & intelligent little soul. You’re achieving things way ahead of when you should be. Every single day you make us so proud with those many new skills. You never fail to make us smile with how absolutely beautiful you are. Watching you grow into the prettiest girl walking is an absolute honour.
Kindness Is Essential:
Always be kind. But don’t let anyone walk over you. Treat people with kindness unless you need to tell them you dislike their behaviour towards you.
Saying No Is Okay:
Never do a single thing you don’t want to do. Saying no is completely fine. We will never force you to do a single thing. As you grow older you’ll have a clearer understanding of saying no in circumstances. But it’s not a word that shouldn’t be acknowledged or used.
Don’t Let Nobody Tell You Otherwise:
If someone tries to knock you down or be unfriendly to you do not listen. You are precious. If anyone tells me something opposite to what I know you can fulfil or anything about you I disagree with I’ll always correct them. You are brave, you are smart and you are so beautiful. If people can’t see those things then it’s their loss and blindness to the absolute joy you bring to any room you enter.
My little girl, the world is yours and you can do what you like, when you like and how you like in it. But I hope you grow up one day and read this knowing and understanding each of those points and believing in them yourself. As parents, we beam with pride to have you in our world. We love you baby girl x