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Mia’s Homeschool Journey Begins
A Letter to My Daughter: Listen First, Keep Your Eyes Open, Not Everyone Who Does Good Is Good
Have you Heard of Her? That Girl There Once Was.

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We did It! 1st week all back to SCHOOL!

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Mia’s Homeschool Journey Begins

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sheis__kristina

Navigating education in the Memphis area can be in

Navigating education in the Memphis area can be incredibly complicated. Our home is incorporated and designated as part of the city school system, even though we live in what feels like a rural community. Over the years, the surrounding suburbs created their own municipal school districts, leaving families like ours caught between systems.

For years, our family received transfers into our closest municipal school district. Four of Mia's older siblings attended those schools. Yet when it came time for Mia, she was denied every year.

As a parent, that was difficult to understand. It felt unfair and discouraging. But I've learned that sometimes the plans we work so hard for aren't the plans God has for us.

What felt like a setback turned out to be a blessing.

This fall, Mia will begin attending @madonna_learning_center school uniquely equipped to support her learning style, celebrate her abilities, and help her thrive.

I don't know exactly what this next chapter will look like, but I do know this: God often opens doors we never would have chosen ourselves, and those doors can lead to something far better than we imagined.

We're excited for Mia's future and grateful for the journey that brought us here. ❤️

#MiaStrong #DownSyndromeAwareness #SpecialNeedsParenting #FaithOverFear #MadonnaLearningAcademy

So true words!! Thank you @ourhuddybuddy for being

So true words!! Thank you @ourhuddybuddy for being bold and "letting me" copy your inspo 🤣 but for real! Our kiddos are the best!
#DownSyndrome #downsyndromeawareness #mosaicdownsyndrome

Look who is getting a new school in the fall!!!💕🙌🏼

Look who is getting a new school in the fall!!!💕🙌🏼🙏🏼 @madonna_learning_center

Have you ever been told your child wasn't human?!

Have you ever been told your child wasn't human?! I have.

*Save, repost or share this so Instagram continues the awareness.*

Yes, I know a ridiculous response to a living, breathing being. Whether a "troll account" or AI someone at one point thought this. I, against better judgement, engaged with this account and they responded, "they are not human and don't contribute anything to society."

But My daughter has Down syndrome. She is fully human and she has a place in society—just like anyone else.

Down syndrome is one of the most extensively studied genetic conditions in medicine. Research involving individuals with Down syndrome has contributed to major advances in genetics, developmental science, congenital heart disease treatment, immune system research, and Alzheimer’s disease (due to genes located on chromosome 21). Their participation in studies has helped expand understanding that benefits medicine far beyond one diagnosis.

But beyond research, her place in this world is not defined by what she can “produce.” It’s defined by belonging.

She is a daughter, a friend, a learner, and a part of her community. She contributes in ways that matter—through presence, connection, love, and the way she experiences and shapes the world around her.

A society isn’t measured by how it ranks people. It’s measured by whether it makes room for all people.

And she belongs here. My Mia!

#downsyndromeawareness #mosaicdownsyndrome #downsyndrome

Amazing weekend in Gatlinburg for the Southeast Sh

Amazing weekend in Gatlinburg for the Southeast Shootout Lacrosse Tournament 🥍🥍 our girls went undefeated until the championship game where we landed second after a heated game losing 6 to 7. The rain hit us hard in the first half. I am so proud of these girls!!! They all did so amazing and Charlee scored a TOTAL OF 13 GOALS!! One for the books💞💪🏼

An amazing weekend in Gatlinburg for the Southeast

An amazing weekend in Gatlinburg for the Southeast Shootout 2026 Lacrosse Tournament 🥍 ...pics to come of game time!!! Here are pictures from our leisure time! 💞 We are so proud of you Charlee and how hard you work and play!

To those saying, "Down syndrome comes with health

To those saying, "Down syndrome comes with health problems"—

So does being human.

1 in 6 people worldwide lives with a disability.

More than 2.2 billion people have a vision impairment.

More than 1.5 billion people live with hearing loss.

Cardiovascular disease accounts for about 1 in 3 deaths globally.

Millions of children are diagnosed with developmental, intellectual, or learning disabilities.

A baby with Down syndrome may have an increased likelihood of certain medical conditions, but no baby is guaranteed a life free of illness, disability, or hardship.

Every child deserves the chance to live, love, learn, and be loved. A diagnosis does not determine a person's worth. ❤️

#notaglitch #downsyndromeawareness #mosaicdownsyndrome

#notaglitch #DownSyndromeAwareness

#notaglitch #DownSyndromeAwareness

Having a child is not choosing to have a "perfect"

Having a child is not choosing to have a "perfect" child. You can't try and try again until you get a "perfect" child. Are you perfect? Do you wear glasses? Have you had braces? Did you need ear tube surgery as a child? What about being small-chested? Or too short? Or whatever else we were bullied for? Yeah, none of us are perfect!

And honestly, I feel sorry for them. They'll never experience the smiles, hugs, and unconditional love a child like my daughter can provide. She deserves life, she deserves a chance, and she brings more joy to this world than they could ever imagine. 💞

#DownSyndromeAwareness #mosaicdownsyndrome #DownSyndrome

Can you believe a man called someone like my daugh

Can you believe a man called someone like my daughter a "glitch"? 😭 I can't.

#DownSyndrome #DownSyndromeAwareness #notaglitch

I am still speechless over the news of a very infl

I am still speechless over the news of a very influential couple not understanding the devastation their actions, shared across such a large platform, can cause to a community that has worked so hard to combat ignorance and misinformation.

But this much I know for certain:

My Mia, you are not a mistake. 💞

You are loved. You are valued. You are worthy.

You deserve life. You deserve to be given a chance.

Every child will face hardships in life. Some challenges are visible, and some are not. No life comes with guarantees, and no child is promised an easy path. But hardships do not determine a person's worth, they only make us stronger than 💪🏼.

Your life has purpose, meaning, and immeasurable value. The joy you bring, the love you share, and the lives you touch matter more than words can express.

To every individual with Down syndrome and every family who loves them: your lives are valuable, your voices matter, and your stories deserve to be told.

Every child deserves a chance. Every life has value. And every person deserves to be loved and celebrated for exactly who they are. 💙💛

#DownSyndromeAwareness #mosaicdownsyndrome #spreadlove

16 years ago we saw him at the Kokua Festival in H

16 years ago we saw him at the Kokua Festival in Hawaii. Today on our home turf @overtonparkshell we saw @jakeshimabukuro again along with some of our kiddos! Luckily @mptubinis and I still fit into our shirts from 2010 😅😜✨

Date night 💞✨ @overtonparkshell with @eastnashgras

Date night 💞✨ @overtonparkshell with @eastnashgrass

Happy #GlobalRunningDay, friends! Month 3 of consi

Happy #GlobalRunningDay, friends! Month 3 of consistent running again 💪🏼

What a beautiful night 💞@germantowncharity

What a beautiful night 💞@germantowncharity

Did you know that siblings of children with specia

Did you know that siblings of children with special needs often develop exceptional empathy and understanding? (Also✨bonus question at the end!)

Watching my children (and their friends ) interact with Mia through love and support reminds me that while this journey isn't always easy, it shapes hearts in beautiful ways. 💙

One reason is that they are exposed to differences from an early age in a very personal way. While every sibling's experience is unique, many siblings of children with special needs often:

💙 Learn that everyone has different strengths and challenges.

💙 Develop patience by adapting to situations that may require extra time, flexibility, or understanding.

💙 Become strong advocates after seeing their sibling navigate barriers or misunderstandings.

💙 Gain perspective by recognizing that not everyone's journey looks the same.

💙 Learn inclusion naturally because differences are part of their everyday life.

Research has found that many siblings of individuals with disabilities report higher levels of empathy, compassion, and social awareness. Of course, they may also face challenges, such as taking on extra responsibilities or feeling overlooked at times, but their experiences can foster a deep appreciation for acceptance and human connection.

BONUS QUESTION: What book am I reading?👇🏼

#SpecialNeedsFamily #SiblingLove #DownSyndromeAwareness #SpecialNeedsMom

He did not win 🤣💪🏼@mptubinis

He did not win 🤣💪🏼@mptubinis

Do you know what it feels like to be a wife, mom o

Do you know what it feels like to be a wife, mom of 6, special needs mom, and work-from-home mom? It feels like I am always forgetting something, always disappointing someone, always overwhelmed by the endless list of things to do.

Once upon a time, a boss called me the most productive person on the team. Now I feel like I’m completing nothing, handling nothing well, and dropping the ball everywhere. I got to the point where I was only dealing with the most pressing issue right in front of me — not looking too far ahead and not prioritizing anything. Basically just surviving long enough to get to the next thing done.

I’ve realized I have to pull myself out of this. Not because everything will suddenly get easier, but because living in constant survival mode is exhausting. So here is the list I’ve made for myself. 🤍

✨ Pray more, panic less
🤍 Take care of myself like I take care of everyone else
☀️ Accept that some days surviving is still enough
🌿 Move my body… even if it’s just a walk

I can’t pour from an empty cup. One day at a time.

Yes, children with Down syndrome can swim — and ma

Yes, children with Down syndrome can swim — and many absolutely thrive in the water. 💙

Swimming builds:
✨ Strength
✨ Confidence
✨ Coordination
✨ Independence
✨ Joy

Every child learns differently, and progress may look different too — but different does not mean impossible! And please don't ever tell Mia she can't be in water!! She is our mermaid 🧜🏼‍♀️

Some of the biggest milestones happen one small splash at a time. 🫶

To the parents showing up for therapies, lessons, encouragement, and every brave first step… keep going. Your kids are capable of amazing things. Let's not limit them because of our limited knowledge of what they can do!!

#DownSyndromeAwareness #DownSyndrome #NothingDownAboutIt #SpecialNeedsParenting #mosaicdownsyndrome

These last 6 years have stretched me in every way

These last 6 years have stretched me in every way — physically, mentally, and emotionally. I’m not always sure why God chose for our path to feel so uncertain and fluid, but here we are.

I went from being a marathon runner to a mom navigating a world I knew nothing about, carrying the weight of stress, exhaustion, and over 30 extra pounds. Somewhere along the way, I lost parts of myself trying to survive it all.

But slowly, little by little, I’m finding her again. 💕

I’ve lost 17 pounds and have been running consistently again for the last 2 months. It feels so good to feel strong again — not just physically, but mentally too. And yes, I know how quickly life can change. I know progress can feel fragile when life throws giant curveballs.

But today I’m choosing gratitude. I’m still here. Still trying. Still growing. Still running.

Friends, life is hard. It humbles all of us at some point. But don’t forget — if you’re still living, there’s still purpose ahead of you. Are you living too? ⬇️ Tell me how!! Please?

Also shout out to @katiekalsi_handbags for the amazing handbag and hand-painted strap I'll be wearing for Memorial Day 🇺🇸

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