Up Down Tales

I love Spring, everything feels and looks nicer and after enduring two months of constant rain it is a joy to see brighter days and daffodils showing off in parks. In our own garden there are so many signs of new life and growth. In a couple of months it will be a wash with beautiful lilacs, pinks, whites and pale yellows. My favourite time of the year to spend time in the garden is May and June, when the alliums and foxgloves are in bloom. Maisie will finish playschool in June and we’ll look forward to summer adventures in Donegal and France before she will enter primary school in September. I’m bound to feel nervous knowing what a big change it’ll be but Maisie is already excited to go and having heard from other mums whose own kids with Down Syndrome started last year and settled so well, I’m sure she will be happy and thrive there. Whenever I mention to anyone that she’s starting Junior Infants in September she shoots her hand up and says “me too”!

Following a rare summer of gloriously warm weather we are back in a routine of school, afterschool activities, sports timetables and speech and language therapies. Maisie is in her second year of ECCE so she will start primary school next September. She has a packed schedule this year including Montessori until 12.30 daily and one afternoon at a playgroup organised by St. John of God disability services. At the latter she receives one to one teaching to support her cognitive and social skills and when I collect her there is so much laughter I wonder has she done any work at all! The staff are wonderful and I feel lucky that Maisie benefits from this wonderful service. She also adores her regular playschool, the children are friendly and she loves her spanish teacher Maria. At home she could be playing or drawing and the next thing she’s putting the toy or sketch into her school bag to “show Maria”. Edel is Maisie’s AIM worker and the two of them bonded immediately last year. It’s wonderful and reassuring to know Maisie enjoys all of these experiences and is eager to learn and engage in new experiences.

My next blog was going to be on toilet training but I’ve been noticing how involved Maisie wants to get in everything her siblings are doing, particularly when it comes to sport. Besides I don’t really want to write about cleaning up another accident for the umpteenth time. There is no magic wand and what it comes down to is patience and praise, hiding any frustration and knowing that she and I are doing our best and there will be a time when cleaning up pee will be a thing of the past. Then I know it’ll be the right time to get a dog so I can start doing it all over again! Maisie’s dad says going into see her in the mornings is the same exciting feeling he has on Christmas mornings. She is always so happy to see us and says and signs Good Morning, it’s so cute. Se also asks for chocolate buttons so maybe she thinks it’s Christmas morning too?! For me despite the challenges toilet training brings and the emotional and physical impact that comes with being a parent of young kids, those joyous moments with her really count for a lot.

This year Maisie was an ambassador for Down Syndrome Ireland and I couldn’t have been more proud of her. Her cheeky grin and beautiful face was all over social media and other digital platforms to promote WDSD. The theme this year was Support Our Dreams and I got to advocate for Maisie by raising awareness of our children's capabilities and about the need for perceptions around people with intellectual disabilities to further change. I think the campaign was a huge success and it touched peoples hearts to remind us about the important things in life, to love, be loved and be accepted for who you are. I love everything about Maisie and I know she has a bright future ahead of her. Isn’t that what every parent would like for their children?

This week Maisie and I attended a photo shoot for Down Syndrome Ireland, where I was interviewed and Maisie had videos and photos taken of her having great fun playing with colourful socks! “Lots of Socks” is the advertising campaign run by Down Syndrome Ireland this year and we were delighted to be asked to participate. She really enjoyed being the centre of attention and immediately started playing hide and seek whilst hopping like a bunny. We were hoping to have Maisie sit beside me whilst I was interviewed but this little lady had other ideas. Nevertheless it all went well and great shots were taken of Maisie and one of her saying “thank you” at the end. It’s purpose is to raise awareness of Down Syndrome and this years theme is “Dreams”. My dream is for Maisie to be happy of course and to pursue her passions. We know that she’ll lead a fulfilling life and will find meaningful employment. But my other dream, one that’s the same for all parents of children with disabilities is for people to look beyond the disability. Don’t underestimate our children, they are more capable than you think!

It’s almost Christmas and as well as being a most exciting time for our kids, it will be Maisie’s birthday during the holidays. The Big Four and there’s no denying just how far Maisie has come along in recent months. A proud mammy that’s me, she’s a daddy’s girl too, and not just a cute little sister but one who can stand her ground with a shove or a shout but also shower them with loving cuddles and tickles. It hasn’t been the easiest few months parenting wise (and that’s with all three mind) but that’s the reality of bringing up kids these days. They need us so much, and whenever I feel emotionally and physically depleted one foot must still go in front of the other. Just making sure even twenty minutes every day is time spent looking after myself and I’ll feel the better for it. For the first time in years I am sleeping better too. I’ll always look back with rose tinted glasses when I look at their baby pictures but I’m very glad to be out of the sleep deprived era!

Maisie our funny, beautiful little girl is all set for starting playschool full time next week. She’s had a great summer, from feeding the Guinea pigs and playing in her “cafe” in the garden, to spending time at the beach in Donegal(she goes straight into the sea, just like Evie would have done), swimming in the pool in Spain and experiencing her first camping trip..it’s been a busy but fun time for her and I’ve really enjoyed spending time with her. Not to say she isn’t a rascal at times, “no, no, no” is a favourite phrase of hers and she has a tendency to run in the opposite direction when we’re out, meaning I’ve got to lift her frequently and she’s not little anymore!

Post Christmas can usually feel a little glum but we had Maisie’s birthday to celebrate at the beginning of January. Sproutings of snowdrops and daffodils gave me joy throughout some of those dreary days and then we were lucky to go on a sun holiday in February. Today is March 1st and the sun is out. I hear more birds singing in the garden which is abundant with swaying daffodils and narcissi. Maisie is loving playschool and she’s busy at home too, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of two older siblings making for a busy, noisy, sometimes stressful but generally fun and loving home.

Another birthday is approaching and soon Maisie will turn 3. I’m glad she’ll be in the best form for it as Christmas was full of illnesses! We were all sick from one thing or another except Caolan but he was shattered due to all the sleepless nights. This Christmas Maisie knew all about Santa and the excitement of Christmas(we had been playing Christmas songs since November😬) so I’m pretty sure she’ll have a blast opening her presents, eating her birthday cake and singing happy birthday to herself.

It’s summer and Maisie has just turned 2.5years. She is such a character and goes between being very clingy to fiercely independent. It’s a busy time with her siblings at home over the holidays but the weeks are flying by already and come September Maisie will be joining Tom and Evie on the school run, attending a special needs preschool, for one year only before she will begin Montessorri. She is very sociable and I know she will love it, as much as I’ll enjoy some time to myself and returning to work in my garden studio.

One of my first posts was about Bailey, our small fluffy, loyal, lovely Bichon Frise. We had him for over 13years, and so much happened in that time. He was there for all the important life stuff, meeting Caolan, moving house, having kids, getting married, and all those trips back to Donegal. His first few years were spent in Donegal, where most of his adventures happened and then he settled into city life although with a big garden and huge park on our doorstep he lived a happy, fulfilling life🐶🐾

It’s our last day in Lanzarote and I’m relaxing on our balcony feeling the warm heat on my face, looking out at gently swaying palm trees, the blue sea in the near distance. The chirping of birds overriding any noise from the pool. I feel good. My knees aren’t sore. I feel genuinely relaxed, savouring each moment before everything gets busy again. Maisie is napping, Evie is at a kids luncheon and Tom and his dad are at their favourite café. I started to write this post a day into our holiday and whilst I was enjoying the same view, I felt a bit uptight. It can take a couple of days for everyone to settle in and the only way we’ll enjoy the holiday is if the kids are happy. Even when they are, it’s never plain sailing but the good memories usually outweigh the tricky ones and we’ll go home yearning to return.