Gifts is a new-ish book edited by Kathryn Lynard Soper and written by a group of mothers brought together by their child’s diagnosis of Down Syndrome (or “Up Syndrome” as one adult child in the book calls it! I love it!).

Most of the stories are mothers’ accounts of adjusting to their child’s diagnosis. I read this book cover to cover in three days (and I don’t have much spare time so that’s saying something) and hung off every word. I have a lot of experience with people with T21 yet I still don’t know how I would instinctually react if my own child were born with an extra chromosome. The stories of these mothers made me realize that no matter what my reaction was, it would be normal and someone else has already reacted the same way.

Opinionated Parent Michelle is a contributing author and she makes us proud! This book will be the first purchase I make if and when I ever know of someone who is going through the T21 diagnosis of their child. It’s an amazing read for anyone, but for a parent to know that they’re not alone is perhaps the second best gift of all. Second, of course, to our children. No matter how many chromosomes they happen to have.