I wanna be like Bridgie....

On my Uncle Bill’s driveway last night, I watched as my youngest daughter ‘worked the room’ so to speak.  Walking up and down the flat paradise as if she owned the place, waving and shouting ‘hi!’ in her raspy voice to all who graced her path.  I began to wish that I could be like Bridgie.

Strong

Confident

Loving

Friendly

Fun

These are just a few of her wonderful traits.

Innocent

Trusting

These are a few more.

It’s the innocent and trusting that got me thinking.  While in and of themselves they are great qualities, there is a fine line with them.  In this great big, bad world of ours they can be harmful.  

This got me thinking about being Bridgie’s mom and how it makes me feel.  While that is a post for another time, I want to talk about how those qualities propel me into action.  Ways my parenting has become more purposeful.

Enter Bridgie’s Brigade.  It has recently been brought to my attention that perhaps I am just parading my daughter by bringing attention to Down syndrome in the ways I have chosen.  I gave about 2 minutes thought to this and then trashed it.

What I have chosen to do with this bit of information is further explain Bridgie’s Brigade and it’s purpose.

Bridgie’s Brigade is a journey.  There is no real definition here.

Bridgie’s Brigade was born on a series of training runs, swims, and rides.  (I have written before about God perched on my shoulder whispering in my ear.)  Listening to God and tuning in to His plan can be hard for me.  Tuning out my own thoughts and plans in order to hear Him more clearly takes time.

When Bridgie was born I contacted a local Down syndrome group and for very significant reasons we never connected but recently have and are excited about the new doors opening to us.  During the two years that followed I began trudging my way through all things Down syndrome.  Blogs, websites, books.

One of the resounding messages was that of education.  When you become a parent of a child with Down syndrome you take on another role as well. One of educator.  If you want the world, your community, or even just your family to accept this new love of your life then you have to be willing to share information and educate people on the ins and outs of Down syndrome.  

People think they know.  “Oh, but they are just so sweet and happy all the time”. No, not really. “Things are so much better for ’them’ nowadays”.  Yes and no.  

Our life has taken a turn and I would not change it or go back for any reason. None.  Bridgie is my daughter, Erin and Eoin’s sister.  Down syndrome does not define Bridgie but without it she would not be Bridgie.

Strong

Confident

Loving 

Friendly

Fun

Innocent

Trusting

We love Bridgie and therefore we love Down syndrome.  

Bridgie loves the world and the world loves Bridgie.

Bridgie’s Brigade is born out my concerns over  that last statement.  How do I protect my children from that statement.  ALL of my children. 

You see Bridgie’s Brigade is not about Bridgie.  It is about the collective Bridgie and their caretakers.

I KNOW that I can care for Bridgie and give her all of the resources and skills to become an independent, productive member of society.  But I may not always be here to do the job. 

 Enter Erin and Eoin.  

Add to that the fact no one can TRULY protect the collective Bridgie’s from the world.

So what is a mother to do?  The only thing she can.

Educate.

Bridgie’s Brigade has chosen to support Best Buddies as our first fundraising effort because of it’s focus on integration, education, training, independence, and leadership.  Our family may have to rely on this organization to support our Bridgie, therefore, we must support the collective Bridgie’s and the organizations that support them now.

When Bridgie was born and she was diagnosed with an extra chromosome, my only real concern was Erin and Eoin.  How will this change their lives?  Daily, I see the blessings she has brought to  their lives and how they truly are just brothers and sisters.  But the education is already beginning.  ‘Things’ are different.  And at 6 ½ Erin is asking questions.

We are straight forward and honest in our answers.

She understands that Bridgie has Down syndrome and that she will learn some things at a slower pace.  She understands that we have to communicate through signs with her as she learns words.  She understands we need to speak clearly to her and limit fun baby talk so that she can learn words.

And for now that’s enough.  It does not bother us, therefore, it does not bother her.

The other day she said “Mommy, I wish I had Down syndrome.  Then I could be the same as Bridgie”. Followed up with the question “have I ever had Down syndrome?”  So, we talked about chromosomes and genes and how are bodies are formed and how Bridgie’s body map has one more chromosome and how she could never have Down syndrome because she does not have any extra chromosomes.

And that was enough.  For now.

Bridgie’s Brigade  is about awareness, advocacy, understanding, friendship, and fun.  

A journey.

We are here now, raising money for Best Buddies.

http://www.dcchallenge2012.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=997266&lis=1&kntae997266=9199AD5CC3034C9990BFE952B5FD46B5&team=4942614

Who knows where or what we will be doing in a year.

Won’t you join us?