I remember going to church every week when I was young and seeing an elderly couple with their adult, Down Syndrome child. More recently, I attended a local conference in which my daughter was making a presentation with her friends and noticed several older parents accompanied by their adult Down Syndrome children. I realized then that I don't want Kate's life to be always by my side, doing my things. I want her to have her own life, filled with things about her.
So the mission is to develop and shape a life for Kate built around health and wellbeing. Mind, body and soul. Also to find and nurture her likes, her passions and her journey as an individual. Sounds easy but it really isn't. By nature Kate is shy, reserved and hesitant. She doesn't advocate or assert for herself. She will go along to get along. It's hard to discover Kate's authentic self.
What's the plan? Pay attention closely to find some clues. I know she likes art and being create. It's a good place to start. I'll tap into her interests and elevate or develop them. My vision is seeing Kate take painting, pottery and craft classes. Finding her artistic passions and incorporating them into her future.
Kate's really likes to cook and bake. We are putting together a collection of recipes Kate has successfully made. Finding Healthy-ish, easy recipes and instructions are key. We don't want any frustration or self doubt. The idea is to have her prepare one meal a week. She and her direct care person will work together. Sometimes they shop for the ingredients ahead of time, but usually I try to keep her recipe ingredients stocked. It's nice for me not to have to cook when I get in from work!
Health and wellbeing are foremost in the vision. That means finding an exercise plan that will be with Kate for life. Long walks, the treadmill, weights, badminton, yoga and Dance Dance Revolution are on the list for now. There are other sports we are waiting to try like golf, tap dancing and tennis. We practice mindful breathing and meditation. Kate actually uses these techniques for dealing with stress. It's important to set up the right atmosphere for mediation. Have a little space or corner in the house that encourages relaxation.
Nutrition is also key for wellbeing. It's especially important for the Down Syndrome population because of metabolism and muscle-laxity issues. From a young age Kate has been eating mostly healthy foods. That's not to say we don't enjoy our fair share of fast food or desserts. But, for the most part, Kate has a healthy diet filled with vegetables, fruits, lean protein and whole grains. Drinking lots of water can be a struggle for Kate. We are always working on it. A lesson we have learned is to not keep junk food in the house. It's way too tempting. Also, it's a reason to get Kate out of the house sometimes. I arrange outings with friends and family for pizza and such. Just remember to bring something back for me! Win, win.
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