A Down syndrome advocate mom shares how they find joy amid uncertainty. She wants people to celebrate the pros when parenting a child with Down syndrome.
Oakley Peterson told PEOPLE that she is optimistic, happy, and enjoying every bit of unpredictability that her seven-year-old son has taught them. She explained that they have been living their life to the fullest because of the experience of uncertainty with taking care of her son, Weller.
Supports other moms through social media
The mom-of-three has become a prominent advocate of Down syndrome since their family welcomed their son, who had the condition. She started an Instagram page, NothingDownAboutIt, to show her support.
The 34-year-old mom said she believes she has to be responsible and vulnerable while being in the role she has to change the community's minds and hearts. She explained that she does it so people would accept their kids.
Wants other people to accept the children
Peterson wants people to offer them jobs, and teachers want to have them in their classrooms. She noted that they make the extra effort so other people would talk to their kids about inclusion and love people with disabilities.
The Utah mom also shared that they want other parents of kids with special needs not to feel alone on their journeys, so she shares her family's journey. She posts about their early fears about her son's diagnosis of any small or big victories her child has had.
Doctors do not tell you the good stuff
Peterson explained that social media has changed how people view things. She said that while doctors would only tell you the cons, risks, the hard parts, and health stuff, they do not tell you the special ways these children make their parents feel.
She noted that medical staff does not tell you that children with disabilities will change hearts everywhere they go. She said that no one tells you that these kids would give you more hugs and kisses than other children.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Oakley Peterson (@nothingdownaboutit) on Jul 21, 2020 at 5:34pm PDT
Blessed to be part of the group
Being a part of the Down syndrome community, Peterson feels blessed daily. She explained that the lack of information and resources had made them go through the grief process. But she said that the fun part is that they have been able to help other moms go through what they went through.
She talks to other moms about their children's diagnosis and asks them to join the community. Peterson would tell them that they will have a lifelong new family they never thought they would have.
While the proud mom loves being able to pay it forward, she also admits that she feels pressured at times. She explained that there is a whole lot of responsibility involved because she has to teach other parents to include their other children too.
Peterson would teach other parents to love their children with different abilities. Besides that, she also prepares other parents to fight the battles they could encounter in the future.
However, she explained that she would not exchange her son for anything in the world, so all she does is share both the good and bad sides of parenting a child with Down syndrome.
