31 for 21 Day 2: Why I Blog

My blog post on my first day of blogging in May 2009...

"My goal in creating this blog is to write about my thoughts and feelings as my husband and I begin our journey with our new son Colin and his diagnosis of Down Syndrome. To say that the news was not a shock would be a lie but as time has gone by, we have slowly begun to realize that this is our special mission in life. Colin has already begun teaching us and many people around us what a strong and determined little boy he is...and I couldn't be more proud..."

I think that post was an edit because when I first signed up with blogger, I thought it was going to be a place for me to vent. I didn't have any intentions of sharing my blog with anyone because I thought I was going to need a place to get off my chest what I was thinking and feeling. I thought that what I was feeling was wrong and I felt guilty for that. Although I truly believe in everything I wrote that day, I also think that I was trying so hard to show everyone that we were ok and ok with the diagnosis of Down Syndrome.

However, not even 5 days later, I had already put up a video of Colin rolling over for the first time. I was so excited to share the wonderful things he was doing and the blog quickly evolved into something I was proud to have anyone look at. I was so excited when I got my first comment and then even more so when I had "members" starting to link up.

You see, I knew that there were going to be times when I would need a place to share my frustrations, challenges, and fears, but I also was excited to share Colin's life with the world as we found that our life was beginning to become pretty normal.

I love blogging. I can't wait to show everyone when Colin does something cute, funny, or accomplishes a skill, and it's the first (or second) place I go when I am scared and frustrated and need someone out there to understand what I am saying or even to comment with suggestions. Blogging is a release for me. I feel happy to share the good things, and I feel relieved to share the not so good things.

More importantly, I blog because I hope that someone with a new diagnosis (or even old), stumbles across my blog and sees that someone else is going through something similar to what they are. I have received comments from grandparents, aunts, parents, and siblings of someone living with Down Syndrome who thank me for posting about something that may be a challenge they are facing as well. It makes me feel good to know that there are people out there in my shoes and can relate to the things I post about.

I also post because I want people to know that Colin is a typical little boy who just happens to have Down Syndrome. It does not define him. It is not who he is.

But he IS special.

...and I love sharing that with all of you...