Adventure Zone Playdate

So, one of the many benefits to social media is that I get to meet other mommas who are plucky lucky, like me.

Plucky Lucky?

Like the kind of lucky that only happens in for 1 in 800 babies.

The kind of lucky that happens at the moment of conception, merely because we won the lottery and our kiddos were born with an extra chromosome.

The kind of lucky that parents don’t pray for, but when their children with an extra chromosome choose them, their lives change for the better and their perspectives adjust to seeing things in a more positive way.

Like take for instance, in this case, social media has brought me to my new friend, Tisa.

Tisa and I have been chatting on Instagram for some time now. She shared that she has a little guy named Santi and she was here in Manila for some services with Med Mom.

She lives abroad with her husband and since she’s Filipina, she gets the chance to come home so that Santi can be evaluated, and his therapies adjusted and addressed.

She mentioned that it would be nice to get together because of the long weekend, last Monday.

Knowing that our schedule was really tight because of an awesome invitation from SM Cares and SM City BF for our “Buddies in Training,” to come and visit with Peppa Pig, I asked if we could see each other later in the week, instead.

Good thing Tisa and Santi were available to meet on Friday for a playdate in Adventure Zone!

And how excited was I, when I realized that Tisa invited ANOTHER momma who I have been chatting with through the Best Buddies social media channels?!?!?!

Eunice has a little girl who is smack dab in the middle of Gelli (who is six years old) and Santi (who is two years old). Suemin is a four year old cutie who reminds me of Gelli was she was four.

She’s spunky.
She knows what she wants.
And has no problem saying it….

I don’t know about how many other parents feel this way when they meet a new friend whom they hear has a child with commonalities. I DO know how I feel when I meet a new parent through social media. And I DO know how I feel when that parent arranges for ANOTHER parent to meet up with us too…

I feel GRATEFUL.

I have to admit.

I got a little teary eyed in the car going home when I was sharing with Nino what a wonderful morning I had talking with my new momma friends.

And what do new friends who have babies like ours talk about when they first meet in person?

We talk about how we found each other on social media…
How we were each handed a diagnosis…
How each of our pregnancies (and recoveries) were with each of our children…
We talked about the physical challenges that our children have faced…
We talked about how they are faring now.
Delays.
Milestones.
Self Feeding.
We talked about termination.
We talked about our FEARS.
We talked about having EXTRA FEARS for our girls with IDD.
We talked about how those fears translate into teaching our girls not to be TOO friendly…
We talked about therapy.
We talked about our therapists, doctors, and support systems…
We talked about cultural acceptance, differences in the level of stigma with each of our children…
We talked about FAITH in CHRIST…
And how having a child with Down Syndrome has even changed how we view our spouses.
We talked about having more children.
Healthcare.
Acceptance.
Schooling.

Can I share with you that we were only together for two and half hours?

Can you imagine if we were together even longer?

I want to be ready for our next playdate.

I’m already considering the yearly membership for Gelli because there are so many things that the kids can do! She did NOT want to leave the area even after running around for a full 2 hours! She was going up and down the steps, the jungle gyms, the rope bridges, and the pretend play area and LOVED IT!

You know what else I loved about this particular day? That I got to run into another very special mum who I am inspired by when it comes to parenting. That thing that I said? You know the one that immediately binds to women together because their kids have an extra chromosome? I have a similar bond with another friend of mine who may not have a child with Down Syndrome, but her daughter is just as amazing, and I love watching her grow, too…

Here is some more information on how to become a member at Adventure Zone:

I’m already looking forward to our next playdate….

Adventure Zone in Shangri-La Fort

http://www.shangri-la.com/manila/shangrilaatthefort/health-leisure/adventure-zone/
https://www.instagram.com/adventurezonefort/
https://www.facebook.com/KerrySportsManila/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Adventure-Zone-Shangri-La-At-the-Fort/