“So, why isn’t she walking yet?”
This is a question I hear FAR too often! Not just from parents but Doctors too…
I mean, really? I don’t know Einstein…how about you enlighten ME?
Yes, my daughter is almost 4 years old. Yes, I realised a LONG time ago that 18 months is usually the cut off age for walking. Yes, I have done every therapy and exercise you can possibly think of to help her walk. Yes, she has Down syndrome. Yes, I realise that MOST kids with Down syndrome walk late, but not THAT late.
What do these people expect me to say exactly?
Don’t they think that I’ve tormented myself over this exact question every day since she turned 18 months old?
Don’t they realise the heartbreaking realisations that come with this ignorant question?
Do they think I just lock her up in a box that she can only sit in all day?
For goodness sake.
I understand, you’re trying to make conversation. This isn’t a slight against me, and you’re not trying to make me feel bad. I get where the heart of this question comes from.
But it gets to me. God damn, it gets to me.
After she hit 18 months, it was a little disheartening, but reasonable.
“Okay, she has Down syndrome, you knew it was going to take extra work…”
I looked up other parents on facebook and BabyCentre and googled the heck out of “Typical walking age + Down syndrome”.
I poured my heart out to my family and they all patted me on the back and tried to make me feel better.
‘Okay..so she’ll probably be walking by 2. I have to give her extra leeway, that has to be expected.’
2 years old comes and goes…
Her 2nd birthday was great but a tad heart breaking. Truly. Mainly because I remember what Hannah did for her 2nd birthday. She stood next to the table. She sang Happy Birthday. She blew out her candles. She ran to open her presents.
It was a hard day.
‘But that’s okay. Just because she has Down syndrome, doesn’t mean she’s going to be exactly the same as all of the other kids with Down syndrome. You know this.’
When she was born, our Health Nurse gave us a ‘milestone sheet for DS’, which stated that she could be walking from anywhere between 9 to 76 months.
Everyone wants their child to be the genius. Everyone would love to have the prodigy. Everyone wants their child to prove everybody wrong and defy the odds.
‘Surely, she’ll definitely be walking by the time she’s 3.’
3 years old comes and goes.
And you know what? This is what I tell all of these people who ask this stupid question without thinking:
“I stopped stressing about that awhile ago and realised she will walk in her own time, not mine. And that’s okay.”
I can’t give my daughter a deadline. I worked harder than ever trying to get her to reach that milestone before 3 and it didn’t happen. I stressed and gave myself a migraine every single day over it. That wasn’t helping. Comparisons don’t help anybody.
When Heidi walks, everyone will know. When she walks, there will be the biggest celebration that has ever happened. Ever.
At the same time, IF she NEVER walks, we’ll be okay. Truly.
I get it. Sleeping is way better than walking!
(Heidi took 15 steps on her own this week!!!)
Yay Heidi!!!!! I totally get this. We give ourselves a little peace knowing the Down syndrome charts give them extra time to do this stuff, but it can be a little disheartening when they fall off the Down syndrome charts as well. If our kids read the charts, I’m sure they’d comply to the time tables, but try as I may, Noah refuses to even look at them.
. Heidi will write her own charts, by golly!
Heehee, that she does. Heidi constantly reminds me to slow down and be more patient…which is ultimately a good thing… Everything in her own time, nobody else’s!
Way to go Heidi! Milestones are awesome, regardless of how long it takes to get there.
Thanks for commenting!
Reaching milestones is awesome, I’m sure I’ll look back on this time and laugh in the not too distant future 
I love the answer you’ve settled on. It’s perfect. And, who needs to walk when you’re so stinkin’ cute? My goodness, she’s a doll!
Thankyou! I think so too
Pictures do her no justice 
If there’s anything I’ve learned from my daughter (who also happens to have DS), it’s that she’ll do what she needs to when SHE’s ready. She also walked late — and, actually, learned to dance and run before she walked! Thanks for viewing her blog posting (www.openbooksopendoors.com).
Thanks for stopping by!
Heidi loves to dance too 
Aw! She is so precious! As for the comparison game–it is definitely evil and I think your approach of letting lil Miss H walk in her own time, when she is ready, is best! Cheers to both of you for being awesome!
Thankyou!
We still do physio, exercise like maniacs and currently using a K walker….but not crying about it everyday anymore 
She’s just too clever, walking is a dangerous sport! 
I couldn’t agree more!
I walked into a door the other day at my cross fit class because I was too busy chatting. 
They (all kids) do things in their on time. Just be patient with everything and follow her lead. I understand your frustration with people though. My son Justice, just turned two and also has down syndrome. I have heard children ask my kids why they won’t teach their brother to walk. As if it’s that easy?
His pediatrician just did his two year check up and asked questions based on “normal” development only. I answered everything by adding how amazing he is doing since he has down syndrome. It is incredibly frustrating, but we get the joy of having them in our lives.
Boy, has she taught me patience!
In real life, I am always focusing on the positives, she is doing incredibly well and has come SO far…although it may not seem like that to most other people. It took awhile but now it’s all about following her lead, not mine 