October 29th- Julian and Kelly

“We met Julian and Kelly at a few GiGi’s events, but really started to be friends when Kelly agreed to babysit my kids on Fridays if I would watch Julian when she worked in the evening 2 summers ago.

Julian and Aidan quickly became friends and Julian treated Zoe like his kid sister. It is so nice to see the kids playing together, and when people say that you should treat someone with Down syndrome like their siblings do, I know totally get it. Aidan doesn’t treat Zoe and Julian any differently than any of his other friends. He may adapt by repeating himself when talking with Zoe, but he just thinks, well that’s just Zoe. He takes her differences as just a part of her, they don’t define her. Similarly Aidan may play with different toys when Julian is at our house, like flipping bottles of water. This is not because Julian has Down syndrome, but because he is Julian. I wish everyone could see my daughter and Julian like Aidan does.  As people who have different strengths and weaknesses, different interests and likes- just like everyone else.

As the kids became friends, so did Kelly and I. I knew that she was someone I could go to when I needed a laugh, a cry, or someone to talk to that ‘get’s it’. I was so pleasantly surprised by the love and support that the families show each other in our Ds community. Everyone is so eager to help one another, sharing tips, therapy equipment, references, wine, everything!!!  Sometimes just being there without judgement, or giving you a ‘you got this mama’ is what we need to keep going, because having a kid with Down syndrome isn’t always sunshine and rainbows.

So on one of the last days of Down syndrome awareness month I want to celebrate the friendships that have been made through GiGi’s Playhouse. Thank you to ALL the wonderful people we have met through GiGi’s Playhouse, especially Julian and Kelly. Julian is amazing, and whatever comes next, Kelly, know ‘you got this mama!’’”

-Katie, written about Julian and Kelly