Down Syndrome Association of Tshwane Newsletter April – Volume 5
Can you believe we are almost halfway through the year? Just the other day we sent out our first Newsletter and now we are on volume 5 – Woohoo!!
Coming along with volume 5 is the inevitable winter, the cold days, even colder nights and the constant battle to keep all our kids healthy.
This year, I battled with the decision of whether to give a flu shot or not; last year, Joshua landed in hospital with pneumonia, and as we all know no parent wants that, so, below is a link to all the pro’s and cons of the Flu shot, if any parents, like me, are battling with the decision:
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5597187_pros-children-getting-flu-shot.html
The 14th June will see us hosting our annual Winters ball, this year we are hosting it at the Voortrekker monument Amphi –Hall, our MC for the evening is Liz Miering and we have Thys (Die Bosveldklong) Streicher for entertainment too.
Tables are R5000 each which seats 10 people. We still have 22 tables available for booking.
We also have a host of celebrities who will be joining us for the evening.
A 4 course meal will see to all bellies being filled to the brim!
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The Association, are still in need of sponsorship for the following: |
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Buying a table to attend the function. R5000 per table seating 10 persons. With this option you can either seat 10 of your own guests or 8 guests and we will arrange a celebrity couple for your table. |
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Sponsoring wine for the evening |
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Cash donations that can be used towards making the invitation and other overhead costs that need to be covered. |
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Sponsorship of any item that we can auction off in order to further our funds. |
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Sponsoring one of the following items: |
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13 x 750ml Sherry |
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130 L Juice |
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Topside of Beef (for the carvery) for 600 persons |
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Chocolates to serve with the coffee. |
Petra has a sponsorship request letter, if any of you amazing members know of anyone who would be willing to sponsor any of the Associations needs as above or know any parties who would like to attend, please contact Petra petra@downs.org.za directly.
The Association has been busy planning events for all of you lovely members and would love your input, so this Newsletter is going to inform you of all our exciting plans:
We would like to have a baby competition, 0-3 years of age as well as a a toddler competition, which we would like to have the finals live at our National Day in October or November. If you, our members, are interested in the competition, please let Petra petra@downs.org.za know, so that we can start as soon as possible adding all the cuties to the Newsletter to have our members vote for them!
We would also, for those young adults, like to have a creative writing competition, all literature will be added to the Newsletter as well for members votes, so young adults, if you’re interested, please let Petra know. If any members have ideas on topics for the creative writing competitions, please send in, we would love your input!
Hmmm, this is a big one, we would like to know from you, our members, whether you would like to have support groups for each Childhood group i.e: 0 – 2yrs, 3-6 yrs; pre-school etc, that way, each group can focus on the specific milestones for that age group and share stories and support each other. We would also need a volunteer to work with the Board member responsible for each group to arrange the mornings/picnics and so forth.
In September, to celebrate Spring, we would like to have a Market Day, it will be a fun day for all family and friends, we would like to sell 2nd hand goods, bric a brac, toys etc. What we would need from you and family members, would be donation of any and all goods that you have no use for anymore that we can sell on the day. We will use this as a fundraiser as well as a fun day in the sun.
This Month’s Poem is dedicated to all the Mothers out there:
God Chooses a Mom for a Disabled Child
by Erma Bombeck
Most women become a mother by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures, and a couple by habit.
This year, nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen? Somehow, I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to make notes in a giant ledger.
“Armstrong, Beth; son; patron saint, Matthew.”
“Forrester, Marjorie; daughter; patron saint, Cecelia.”
“Rudledge, Carrie; twins; patron saint… give her Gerard. He’s used to profanity.”
Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles, “Give her a handicapped child.”
The angel is curious. “Why this one, God? She’s so happy.”
“Exactly,” smiles God.
“Could I give a handicapped child a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel.”
“But has she patience?” asks the angel.
“I don’t want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair.
Once the shock and resentment wears off, she’ll handle it. I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence. She’ll have to teach the child to live in her world and that’s not going to be easy.”
“But, Lord, I don’t think she even believes in you.”
God smiles. “No matter. I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness.”
The angel gasps, “Selfishness? Is that a virtue?”
God nods. “If she can’t seperate herself from the child occasionally, she’ll never survive. Yes, there is a woman I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn’t realize it yet, but she is to be envied.
She will never take for granted a ‘spoken word.’ She will never consider a ‘step’ ordinary.
When her child says ‘Momma’ for the first time, she will be present at a miracle and know it!
When she describes a tree or a sunset to her blind child, she will see it as few people ever see my creations.
“I will permit her to see clearly the things I see — ignorance, cruelty, prejudice — and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side.”
“And what about her patron saint?” asks the angel, his pen poised in midair.
God smiles. ” A mirror will suffice.”
Recipes
This Newsletter; I wanted something different with the recipes, as Joshua becomes more independent, he has decided that he wants to do more around the house, cleaning, folding the clothes we already folded, making his own tea and helping with dinner, I decided to google what is easy for kids to make, so, below, please find a link with kid friendly recipes, I am going to be trying them and will share results in the next issue!
Below, is a site that advises games to help with learning every day things:
http://www.modernmom.com/article/games-for-kids-with-down-syndrome
So, dear Members, please give us feedback on all our ideas, remember, without you, we cannot do!!
Dad’s and kids, remember, this month is Mother’s Month,
spoil her and let her know that she is one in a Million, To each and every Mom out there, make your children repeat the following:
You are the best Mom in the whole wide World!!
It works, I promise… And you are
Till, next month, keep warm and keep sharing all your stories
Tel: 012-664 8871
Fax: 012-664 8349
Website: www.downsyndromepretoria.co.za
