The holiday season is officially upon us! And with that comes only magical moments of joy and peace and love.. just kidding! Between the family photo sessions gone wrong and the yearly debate between cooking or takeout, the holidays are complicated. And they get even more complex when your children face new foods, sensory overload, changes in routine, and even unsupportive family members. Today we’re chatting all about how to keep the holidays happy.. including mom guilt, letting go of traditions, how to not spoil our children, dealing with behaviors, and sometimes even sending everyone to bed so we can just decorate the house ourselves! Oh and don’t worry, we’re singing lots of holiday songs along the way. Sending extra love to you all this time of year. Happy holidays, friends!

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SHOW NOTES

Check out our episode on social stories for helpful tips for holiday behaviors!

It’s not too late to shop! Click HERE for our 2021 Holiday Gift Guide.

*Cue the holiday music…It’s the most wonderful (& also sort of stressful) time of the year… holiday shopping time! But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with our 2021 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE! It’s here, friends. We are so excited to share about all these wonderful, narrative-shifting small businesses! Shop for soaps and sweatshirts, books and beach towels, art and educational resources, + more! There’s truly something for everyone. And don’t pay full price, use our discount codes!

Oh and did we mention that many of these companies were founded by entrepreneurs with Down syndrome and employ individuals with disabilities?! So be sure to share this episode and follow us on Instagram for a GIVEAWAY this week where you can products from most of these businesses! Tis’ the season for shopping small and shifting the narrative!

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SHOP THE GIFT GUIDE

Businesses by Self-Advocates:

Charlie French Art: Shop high quality abstract art and holiday prints by Charlie, an artist with Down syndrome.

Trista’s Sunshine Co: Purchase hand-sewn products from Trista, a business owner (& #bosslady) with Down syndrome!

Soap by Zach: Check out Zach’s organic, small batch, goat milk and honey soap.

Dance Happy Designs: Shop handcrafted totes, bins, planters, and pouches from a team of three BFFS- one with Down syndrome!

Businesses that Shift the Narrative:

So Happy to Learn w/Mrs. Brown: We can’t recommend this online educational program for learners with Down syndrome enough! The perfect gift for anyone with DS, anywhere!

Beachables: A beach towel, chair cover, and towel all in one! Created by a fellow lucky mama!

Lynn Richards Art: Journals with hand lettering and custom artwork on the cover! Created by a fellow lucky mama!

Celebrate Different Apparel: Super soft (& stylish) shirts/sweatshirts with advocacy messages! Created by a fellow lucky mama!

The Lucky Few: Level up your advocacy (and accessory) game with our keychains, enamel pins, sweatshirts, shirts, + more! These items make the perfect gift for the worth-shouters in your life!

Trigger warning: topics of sexual abuse.

Did you know that children with disabilities are 3x more likely to experience sexual abuse? Even though the risk is high, Lindsey Strickland believes that with more conversations, we can prevent sexual abuse in the Down syndrome community. Lindsey is a mama to 4, including her son with DS, and she has a background in sexual assault prevention and healing. With her knowledge and passion, Lindsey has created Worth the Conversation, an online community dedicated to keeping children with disabilities safe from sexual assault. Our kiddos face many risk factors each day.. frequent exposure to adults, limited communication, and often times reliance on others for personal needs. So what does Lindsey recommend? Give them as much body autonomy as possible, establish expectations with adults in their lives, teach them the correct names for their body parts, and so much more. Join us for this important episode full of wisdom from Lindsey Strickland, because our kids are definitely #worththeconversation.

Learn more from Lindsey Strickland!

Listen to our first interview with Lindsey Strickland here: 36. A Tough Conversation About Sexual Abuse in the Down Syndrome Community

Listen to episode 55 about puberty and DS here: 55. All Things Puberty & DS w/Dr. Partridge

Read An Exceptional Child’s Guide to Touch

LET’S CHAT

Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

SPONSORED BY BETTER HELP

Head to betterhelp.com/lucky and receive 10% off your first month of online therapy!

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

Anyone else ever felt a little lost (and by that we mean very anxious) when it comes to balancing motherhood, Down syndrome advocacy, and in some cases, international adoption too? There’s a lot to unpack here, so we have an expert on today! Rebekah Lyons is an author, speaker, podcaster, mother to 4 (2 kiddos with DS), and emotional health advocate. Today she’s encouraging us to surrender by letting go and living free.. (if that sounds scary to you, you’re not alone!). She’s also sharing her incredible adoption story about bringing home her youngest daughter with DS all the way from China, her battle with panic attacks, and her tips for raising emotionally healthy kiddos. Plus we’re sharing all about how each of us answered “yes” to adopting kiddos with DS.. cue the tears! This is a good one, friends.

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Connect with Rebekah Lyons!

Listen to episode 49. Trading Stress For Rest w/Rebekah Lyons

LET’S CHAT

Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

(Trigger warning: infant loss, heart defect). Thanks for joining us this week as we discuss a heavy topic: organ transplant discrimination in the Down syndrome community. This topic was born out of a recent tragedy with the passing of Zion Sarmiento, who was born with DS. Zion passed away on October 8th, just a week shy of 4 months old, after being denied a heart transplant by multiple hospitals. And the reasons they were denied are heart breaking. The truth is that many medical professionals, and society as a whole, do not see the worth and value of people with Down syndrome. But thankfully, the National DS Society is working hard to change that. And today, we’re telling you all the ways to take action, how to support Zion’s family, and what we can do everyday to shift the narrative.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Sarmiento family.

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Read the article about Zion Sarmiento from livenation.org

Check out the Facebook page: Zion’s Army

Learn more about the topics discussed today: Nondiscrimination in Organ Transplantation Laws & Toolkit from the National DS Society

Click HERE to take action!

Read the article: Lawmakers introduce federal legislation to prevent organ transplant discrimination

LET’S CHAT

Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

When Alex’s daughter Penny was born with Down syndrome almost 3 years ago, she had no idea how it would impact her family, especially her oldest daughter. But today, Alex and her daughter work together on a special project called: For Kids By Kids where they sell products with a purpose. That’s because each purchase helps support the National Down Syndrome Society. And this month, they’re launching a very special collection of dolls who share features of children with DS, because representation matters! And you can never start too early. So tune in to learn more about how Alex started FKBK, why representation is so important, and how having a child with DS has sparked a creativity in all of us.

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Check out For Kids By Kids Design on Instagram and fkbk.net

Learn more about the National Down Syndrome Society.

LET’S CHAT

Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

“If you could go back and talk to yourself when you got your diagnosis, what would you do tell yourself..” Micha grabbed a microphone and walked all around the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network’s Rockin’ Moms Retreat and asked this question. We got the most amazing (and tear-jerking) responses from you rockin’ mamas. And we’re sharing them with you all today. This episode is full of wisdom from mamas of adults, teens, toddlers, and even twins. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories with us last month! These perspectives are a whole lot better than a google search. So grab your tissues and get ready to nod your head along with all of these interviews. We think you’ll relate.

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SHOW NOTES

Learn more about DSDN and the Rockin’ Mom’s Retreat!

Check out thisisdownsyndrome.com and on instagram: @thisisdownsyndrome.

LET’S CHAT

Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

According to Trista Kutcher, the key to being a #bosslady is feeling special and confident, and we totally agree. Trista is a self-advocate with Down syndrome, a business owner, a hip hop extraordinaire, and an IRL friend of the Avis fam! Trista and her business (Trista’s Sunshine Company) are based in Charleston, South Carolina. Not only does she sell products online, she recently got her products into stores in her area! When she’s not being a #bosslady, she’s advocating for DS, hanging out with her family, busting a move, and listening to the Jonas Brothers (honestly, same).

Friends! You do NOT want to miss this amazing episode with Trista Kutcher (and a very special surprise guest host..Macy Avis!). Trista has an important message for parents of kids with DS and for individuals with DS who want to start their own business. (Hint: positivity is key).

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Follow Trista Kutcher!

Learn more about Peace Love Hip Hop!

Check out Cindy Eckert’s IG - she helped Trista gain her following!

2021 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE!

Every year we put together an episode with the most amazing (& world-changing) gifts of the season. Apply HERE to have your products/business featured in this year’s gift guide!

LET’S CHAT

Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

Raise your hand if you feel like you have no time or energy to work out! And maybe you spend so much time caring for your kiddos that you put your own health on the back-burner.  And let’s face it, after a full day of therapies or an intense IEP meeting, the last thing you want to do is head to the gym. We’re so grateful we found Megan Libassi, a fitness coach and a mom to a little one with Down syndrome, who created Oxygen Fitness Coaching! She specializes in work out programs for mamas of children with DS that are sustainable and stress-free, because she gets it! And on today’s episode, Megan is sharing tips for health and wellness + why it’s so important to care for your health (our kids are watching us!)

Remember friends, you are not alone in your parenting journey, or your fitness journey! We are cheering for you!

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SHOW NOTES

Sign up for one of Megan’s awesome fitness programs! Use code THELUCKYFEW for a discount!

LET’S CHAT

Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!

Alright friends, you asked for it.. and now it’s time to talk about potty training! And who better to learn from than Dr. Lina Patel? (Psychologist, DS expert, and author of Potty Time for Kids with Down Syndrome: Lose the Diapers, Not Your Patience). She’s breaking it all down for us today.. because there’s more to potty training than we even realize (hint: medical challenges, cognition, language, and motivation)! We’re talking about when to NOT start potty training, why traditional techniques might not work for our kiddos, and of course- all the strategies to use when it’s time! Our #1 tip? Dr. Patel’s book!

Oh and if you’ve ever felt yourself stuck in some weird unspoken competition on who’s kid is potty trained first, so have we. So we’re chatting about that too!

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SHOW NOTES

Learn more about Dr. Lina Patel here.

Buy Potty Time for Kids with Down Syndrome: Lose the Diapers, Not Your Patience on Amazon.com or woodbinehouse.com

Check out this wooden stool and training toilet Micha is using for potty training her son, Ace.

LET’S CHAT

Email [email protected] with your questions and Good News for future episodes.

HELP US SHIFT THE NARRATIVE

Interested in partnering with The Lucky Few Podcast as a sponsor? Email [email protected] for more information!