Any family who has a family member with special needs knows amusement parks can be difficult for our loved ones. As a Mom of a child with special needs though I know it helps to be prepared so today I’m going to share our experience at Dollywood.

Whether you’re arranging a fun Easter egg hunt or planning the menu for a delicious Easter brunch life is busy and on top of that you have to decide what to put in the Easter basket! 

Have you ever asked yourself the question…”Do other kids with Down Syndrome do this?”

As we strive for a more inclusive world it’s important to talk about differences to all children at a young age. Stories have been teaching us for centuries and continue to be a great way to explain Down Syndrome to kids. 

Mama Bear, quit apologizing.

A common question I hear amongst parents of children with Down Syndrome is “How do I transition my child from the bottle to a cup?”

Parenting is hard and as a parent of a child with special needs we face challenges others don’t. We love our children but have you ever asked yourself if your child feels your love?

Being a Mom of a child with Down Syndrome means becoming a Mama Bear. In a world that often doesn’t see their worth we fight. 

The Mathe crew LOVES Christmas!  It is by far our favorite holiday and while holidays can be fabulous they can be stressful, especially for a family with a special needs child.

My child born with Down Syndrome loves all things Christmas and that includes stocking stuffers. I love Christmas too, but stocking stuffers can stress me out.

October means Halloween treats and classroom parties.

Choosing the best Halloween costume for your child with Down Syndrome can be hard as the wrong choice can really make or break a night of trick-or-treating.

Talking to oneself or self-talk is a common thing our loved ones with Down Syndrome do.

As your child with special needs enters elementary school you’re going to hear the IEP team discussing classroom modifications and accommodations.

Reading is a fundamental life skill and most of our children with Down Syndrome can learn to read.

When Max, my son with Down Syndrome, was in elementary school every week he’d bring home his spelling words to study for his spelling test on Friday. I learned very quickly the traditional way of studying for a spelling test was not going to work for Max.

Max, my oldest son born with Down Syndrome and later diagnosed with autism prefers to be sedentary. He’s always been this way.

Playtime is important for infant development in all babies including our children born with Down Syndrome.

As a special needs Mom I know how nerve racking it can be to leave your child with a caregiver…especially for the first time.

Once I became a special needs Mom there were some things that became easier and some things that became harder when it came to making friends and maintaining friendships I already had.