When Life Is More Than I Can Handle
When my daughter was born with Down syndrome I felt devastated about her diagnosis. I cried constantly, and I struggled to find hope as I pictured our lives in the days, months, and years to come. One night, as I climbed into bed, I turned to my husband who was ready...
What If She Lives With Us Forever?
One of the first thoughts that crossed my mind when my daughter was born with Down syndrome was, “Will she live with us forever?” When my oldest was born, a typical baby girl, those thoughts would have felt so…outrageous! I mean, who thinks about...
Celebration by Kathleen Bolduc (On raising kids with disabilities)
Applause, everyone. Bravo, bravissimo! Shout God-songs at the top of your lungs! Psalm 47:1 (The Message) My son Joel, who has autism, loves to dance. He’s a study in joy on the dance floor—arms flailing, feet shuffling, eyes shining. Joy bubbles up in my veins as I...
Why Are We So Afraid of Disability?
I had an aunt with a disability. She had a big head, a small body, she used a wheelchair, and the hair on her chin tickled my face when I had to kiss her. I was scared of her. “Don’t stare at her, it’s rude! Look away!” I wanted to stare. I was...
Are mothers of kids with Down syndrome embarrassed? (set#1)
Search engine term #1: Are mothers of kids with Down syndrome embarrassed? Once in a while I like to look at the search engine terms (SETs) that bring people to my website. Some are funny, some are ridiculous, some reflect real pain and loss, some make me wonder the...
Ellen Stumbo writes and speaks about finding beauty in brokenness with gritty honesty and openness. She's passionate about sharing the real – sometimes beautiful and sometimes ugly – aspects of faith, parenting, special needs, and adoption. Ellen’s writing has appeared on Focus on the Family, LifeWay, MomSense, Not Alone, Mamapedia and the Huffington Post.