Friends

It's no secret, I'm quick to fire. I've never been known to ponder my thoughts before blurting them out. I'm pretty sure it runs in my family. (Yeah, you know which side ;)

Talking about my friends? I'll set you straight.
About my family? Sure to start a fight.
My kids? Well, it's gonna get ugly.

Good, I'm glad I got that off my chest. One thing you may not know about me, is that there are people in my life that have become my family by circumstance rather than blood. People who I really feel have been put in my life for a reason.

My daughter was born with Down syndrome. A fluke? Maybe by medical definition, but I truly believe it was meant to be. It's almost painful to think of the relationships I would have missed out on. Sure I would have different friends, but there's no friend in the world like someone who has walked a day in your shoes.

My child fighting cancer? Well no doubt about it, cancer sucks, but again can you imagine the people, the friends, the children I would have missed out on? If there's ever an upside to cancer, it's the relationships that form.

There's just something special about these people. They have been there, they've walked the walk and talked the talk, no doubt about it. I get them and they get me. In my mind, they're family.

So bringing you full circle now - what happens when a negative light is shed on one of these persons? An insult thrown at a mother of a child with Down syndrome for instance? You already know. The boxing gloves go on. There's just something about us special needs moms, unless you've abused, neglected or exploited your child, we'll look after each other. We're a bit feisty.

Today in the wonderful world of facebook, one of my fb friends posted an insulting article about one of us, about a mom of a child with Down syndrome. So I bit back (as I always do). To many, it all goes back to politics. To me, well it was personal. I respect this mom, as I do all mom's facing the challenges and embracing the joys of raising children with special needs. What I LOVE about this mom is she has the opportunity to be an extremely powerful advocate for our kids.

I hope my fb friend, and others reading this, can understand now why the jokes, the attacks, the "top ten's" are irritating and frustrating. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Can't we all just move on?