by Whitney Barthel posted in Parenting

If I could go back to the time before my son with Down syndrome was born, I would want to know that the feelings of anger and sadness I was feeling were normal. I would want to know that even if I was scared and unprepared, it didn't mean that I wasn't meant for this job. And I would want to know that whatever I worried my child would not be able to do, that he would do all of it, and so much more.

Daniel, my now 7-year-old with Down syndrome, at 7 months.

Daniel this summer.
After years of parenting a child with Down syndrome and connecting with many, many like-families, I have discovered most of us started out on the same journey. Many of us mourned the loss of the child we thought we would have. Then when we quickly fell head-over-heels in love with our baby, were completely ashamed of our feelings of sadness, anger, and fear.
Daniel and me this July.
Thankfully, since Daniel's diagnosis almost 8 years ago, I feel there has almost been a Down syndrome revolution. Parents of children (and adults) with Down syndrome have found their voice and have taken the world by storm.
This along with a few new and awesome shows depicting life with Down syndrome have really shown everyone how awesome and normal it can be having a child with Down syndrome.
Last week, a UK reality series that follows the lives of 5 roommates with intellectual disabilities titled The Specials released a ten-minute video of parents preaching ?if I could go back.?...