Hi, I'm Madeline: I am just like you!

If my daughter could tell us all the things she would want you to know, it would probably go a little something like this. So let me introduce, Madeline Grace.

Hi! I'm Madeline! I am 11 years old. I have Down Syndrome and Autism. But that is only a very small part of who I am. I am just a girl who has likes, dislikes, hobbies, a family and friends. I can do anything that anyone else can do. I just sometimes do it differently, but otherwise, I'm just like you! I may not look at you when you talk to me, But I can still hear and understand you. I don't need to see your facial expressions or movements to hear you speak, its actually more distracting. Here are some other things about me you may not know.

I have a little sister named Ellie, she is really cool. She plays with me and helps me with things that can be a bit tricky for me to handle sometimes. She makes me laugh and I like holding her hand when we go places. I love all the things she wears, like dresses, sparkly tops and head bands. I don't like to wear things like that, they bother me, but she looks really pretty in them. We both love music and dancing, we even like the same songs!

David is my little brother, he is so cute! I tell him that all the time. I like giving him hugs and kisses. I like watching him play with his trains and cars. He is really funny and makes me laugh. We like watching movies together and sneaking snacks when moms not looking.

My favorite thing to do is play with my animals. I love our four cats. I can say there names really well. Sunny, Spooky, Luna and Blinkin. Even though Luna and Blinkin are twins, I can totally tell them apart. I really enjoy animals, of all kinds! Farm animals or Zoo animals and I can name them all. I carry my monkeys around with me all the time. I like the ones that are soft, with long arms and legs, because I can make them, hug, walk and dance.

Sometimes I like just being in my room watching cartoons and eating my favorite snack, Cheese dip and chips, yummy! Or outside running and being in the sunshine.

I like going to school and seeing all my friends. I tell mom there names so she knows I got to see them that day. She always asks me if I had a good day. Most of the time I don't respond to her because it's hard for me to get all that information out in words. I would have done so many things that day, and felt so many feelings, smelled, touched and tasted all day. So I rock back and forth to let her know I'm excited and happy. So she understands that everything was good.

Mom gets me. She knows all the things I like and what I don't like. I love laying with her at home on the couch where she has these really soft blankets we can curl up in. I give mom lots of hugs and kisses, because they make her smile. I like when she smiles. If moms upset, I'm upset to. So big hugs seem to always help. I love her very much. Even though she makes me do things I don't like sometimes. Like, pick up my toys, brush my hair, or my teeth, she pushes me to use my words and to do things for myself. Which I know it's because she loves me very much to.

I have daddy wrapped around my finger. He loves taking me on adventures. We fly kites together, and I'm really good at it! Touching strings or ribbons with my fingers feels good on my hands and keeps me calm. Daddy takes us camping or hiking. Walking a long ways is hard for me, so sometimes I get piggy back rides. (Which I love!) He always makes sure I'm safe and happy. I have a hard time controlling my body sometimes and I can throw, or hit things. I don't mean to. It just happens, I always try to say I'm sorry. So daddy built me a special box for my TV so I could watch it without messing it up. Because I love to watch movies.

One of my favorite places is my Grammys house. I call it Grammys sweet house. Because she is so sweet. She is always there when I want to see her. She makes my favorite foods and plays my favorite shows. She will fix and sow up any of my monkeys for me, because I love on them all day everyday and they get wore out. Her and grandpa made me a special swing in there back yard and I love to just sit and swing, it's the best!

I have a routine everyday. It makes me uncomfortable when things change in my day, I can get overwhelmed and it's hard for me to focus. To many people or noises get me over stimulated and I can get upset or shut down and not want to move. This is hard in a public place. But I have learned ways to calm myself down. I keep monkey with me and I now have a device I can use to talk with, it helps a lot when I can't find my words.

I like to go at my own pace, there's no need to rush. Life is beautiful, so take it all in when you can. Smile, Laugh, dance, and sing. Do what makes you happy. Give more hugs and make new friends. And when you tell someone you love them, really mean it. Because everyone is amazing and special in there own way. We all just want to be accepted. I do, and I know you do to. We are more alike than different.

"You are so Beautiful"

- Madeline

If you enjoyed reading this Blog, stay tuned for next weeks post. Follow us on TikTok @Findingthepieces. Or you can email me @Findingthepieces25@gmail.com