Tag: parenting

  • The Everyday Joys and Challenges of Life with a Four-Year-Old and a Two-Year-Old

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    Our children are the most precious thing my partner and I have. We love them more than anything. This is what our daily life with two young children, aged four and two, looks like. Constant Motion, Constant Energy Most days can be summed up with one word: movement. I’m always amazed when we see a…

  • What to Expect After a Down Syndrome Diagnosis (Early Pregnancy)

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    I received my son’s diagnosis early in pregnancy — at 12 weeks. I know many people get the diagnosis in the hospital after birth. In some ways, it was easier for me because the first reaction — shock — happened early in the pregnancy. In the hospital, it may be easier in a different way…

  • Living on One Income While Raising a Child with Down Syndrome

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    Choosing Priorities Over Perfection Raising a family on one income is a choice that requires clarity and courage. For us, the decision was simple: we prioritize our children and our family life over material comforts. I could go back to work tomorrow—my teaching skills and master’s degree make it possible—but I choose not. Why? Because…

  • I Failed My Daughter — And I Still Can’t Forgive Myself

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    I still carry postpartum guilt. I keep replaying the moments, thinking of all the things I wish I had done differently with my daughter. This is a chapter from my e-book that I wrote through tears. Even now, I don’t know how much this has affected her, or whether I caused her lifelong trauma. The…

  • How to Talk About a Diagnosis

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    When I learned about my son’s Down syndrome diagnosis while 12 weeks pregnant, I was in shock—scared, frozen, and completely overwhelmed.After the call with the geneticist, the first person I had to tell was my partner. I wasn’t even afraid of the conversation. I was crying so hard that fear didn’t really exist yet. We…

  • What Motherhood Gave Me That Career Never Could

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    I never thought motherhood was for me. At school, I was the “golden child.” I remembered everything effortlessly. I didn’t need to take notes. Good grades came easily simply by listening. University felt like the logical next step, and I completed my degrees all the way to a master’s level. At the same time, I…

  • Why Declining Birth Rates Matter — And What We Can Do

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    In many developed societies, declining birth rates have been a persistent reality for decades. This trend poses serious challenges for nations and cultures alike, because at the heart of every thriving society are families and children. If a nation wants to sustain itself through the ages, it must find ways to support and encourage family…

  • Family Life Reflections and 2025 Highlights

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    This post is about looking back and forward – family life reflections. 2025 has been an eventful and transformative year for our family. Looking back, we can see growth, milestones, and moments of joy, alongside challenges that have tested our resilience and unity. This year has reminded us of the strength and importance of family…

  • Family Eating Habits with Young Children

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    How does eating work in your family? Do children eat whatever they want, whenever they want — or are there clear rules?In our home, family eating habits are based on balance, structure, and flexibility. I try to follow one main principle: children should eat proper, warm meals. If a dish truly doesn’t suit a child,…

  • A Cozy Family Christmas with Young Children

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    Christmas has always held a very special place in our family. While we usually live together with my partner’s parents, during the holidays we travel to my childhood home — a small summer house — to spend our family Christmas quietly, just the four of us (soon to be five). This change of space already…