Confessions of a DSACO Mom
In honor of Mother’s Day, the Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio’s Program Coordinator of New Parent Services & Social Media (and DSACO mom!) Courtney Frost shared a reflection on motherhood and being part of the DSACO community.
Confession #1: I don’t know what I’m doing.
My youngest child, and my only son, was born in the early hours of a Sunday morning—ten fingers, ten toes, and surprise! An extra chromosome. The moment I laid eyes on him, I knew my heart didn’t stand a chance. Looking up at me with those beautiful almond-shaped eyes, it was as if he was speaking to my soul and saying, “We can do this.” And being my fourth child, I really did feel like I knew what I was doing, at least when it came to changing diapers and juggling motherhood. But raising a child with Down syndrome? Well, that comes with its own set of challenges and beauty that no one can prepare you for. Christian is now twelve, and to be honest, I still don’t really know what I’m doing. I’m learning along the way with the most handsome and inspiring teacher I know, and that’s okay. Together, we’ve made it this far, and I’m confident there’s still much more for me to learn.
Confession #2: I can’t do this alone.
Raising my son has been one of the greatest blessings in my life, but this journey is not meant to be done alone. Spending time with other moms who “get it” can breathe life back into my weary soul. When you’re advocating in school, navigating puberty, and teaching skills that you thought you’d be done teaching by now—it’s your fellow DSACO moms who can bring laughter, clarity, and joy back into your life just when you need it most.
Confession #3: Love isn’t always all you need.
Love comes easy: spend just a few minutes with a person with Down syndrome, and you’ll see that love is the easiest part of all of this. Motherhood brings incredible joy, and for many moms, there’s guilt if you admit the parts of it that aren’t joyful. I spent many years trying to hide anything that wasn’t seen as joyful. But the truth is, to be your full and authentic self, you have to embrace all parts of motherhood, including the parts that are hard, exhausting, and sometimes feel too heavy a load to carry on your own.
A few weekends ago, DSACO hosted our annual celebration just for moms; this year’s theme was “Pajamas at the Disco”! It was a night filled with laughter, friendship, and nachos. I saw moms relaxed, sharing and talking more than I’d ever seen them do before. We danced without inhibition, moving to the beat of our own drum and knowing that we all belonged together. We all had one thing in common: a child with Down syndrome. And that one thing transcends any other differences between us, forever linking us together in the bonds of {DSACO} motherhood.
I have the absolute pleasure of welcoming our newest families into the DSACO community, and I truly get excited when I share with them the supports that DSACO offers to families. DSACO sees the importance of supporting moms right from the beginning and seeing the value that a connection can bring through resources like our Parent Mentor Program and M.O.M.S. nights. The community they are joining is truly unique—something they never knew they wanted, but somehow always needed.
For more information about the support that DSACO offers for parents and caregivers, please visit https://www.dsaco.net/families/parents-caregivers.
