One of my greatest fears when Saajan was born was how it would impact Arjun. Would he resent us one day? I remember grieving for his loss as well as my own. It hurt the most – the thought that all we wanted to give him was the gift of a sibling, but instead we birthed a burden. At least that’s how I felt then. It’s still a deep rooted fear of mine that one day he’ll resent his brother and us, but stories like Julia’s fill me with so much hope. Julia has comforted me at my moments of weakness with instilling me with confidence that Arjun will grow to be a well rounded individual who’ll love his brother so fierce just like she loves her twin brother Michael! You can feel how much she cares and adores her brother.
Julia writes at Beyond The Waves blog and also shares her journey on Instagram.
Here’s Julia’s side from a sibling perspective on how having a sibling with Down Syndrome has impacted her life …
Looking back on my life with Michael, I’m more than grateful for having had him as a twin brother. Oftentimes I am asked if I ever feel like Michael is a burden, or if I’ve made any sacrifices for him. I can comfortably say that I absolutely love and adore Michael, and couldn’t imagine my life without him.
Many of us make “sacrifices” for our loved ones, but we would do anything for the people we love. In those cases, they don’t feel like sacrifices, but simply acts of kindness that we are instantly rewarded with. And when I say reward, I mean in a sense of gratification and fulfillment. For me, there’s nothing like taking Michael on an adventure and getting to witness his amusement. I’m so grateful every day for being blessed with his presence.
With the constant talk of eliminating Down Syndrome and misconceptions of it appearing as a burden to society, there needs to be increased awareness regarding not only Down Syndrome, but the special needs community as well. Experiencing life with a loved one who has Down Syndrome exposes the most genuine and pure perspectives in life.
I’m a firm believer that your thoughts shape your reality, and am forever grateful for Michael’s presence. One of my favorite qualities about Michael is his genuine kindness towards others. He holds no bias towards others, and treats all others the way they treat him. Michael doesn’t care about how you look, how you dress, what your race, sexual orientation, or gender is. As long as you treat him well and approach him in a kind manner, Michael will reciprocate that as well. Even though he may communicate without words, he really excels in the most important form of communication: the language of love.
While many parents tell me they’re concerned with how their children’s lives will be impacted by having a sibling with Down Syndrome, I am always confident with my answer. Those children will forever cherish having their sibling with Down Syndrome. Growing up with that sibling will immediately establish a positive connection with the special needs community, and teach them more than anyone else can.
For World Down Syndrome Day 2018, I’ll be sharing 21 different stories to raise awareness! If you loved this story, you may love the others, you can find them here.
