There are so many things I adore about my 11 year old daughter Macyn. The list truly is infinite. But near the tippy top of the list of qualities and character traits I love about her is her uninhibited approach to life and the fact that she has Down syndrome.
Down syndrome is a genetic condition that takes place when there is an extra copy of the 21st chromosome. While Down syndrome does not define my daughter, there are so many amazing qualities about her that I credit to Down syndrome including her lack of inhibition.
Let me give you a little example of what I am talking about: Macyn LOVES people. Like everyone I know, she has a deep desire for human connection and relationship. But the reality is, because she has Down syndrome, the people in the world who do not have a connection to the Down syndrome community, which is most people, don’t know how to respond to Macyn. Most people who are meeting Macyn for the first time often end up trying to ignore or avoid her. The truth remains, most humans are afraid of the unknown and often afraid of different. Here’s where Macyn’s inhibitions come in; while she also responds to the unknown like most humans do, feeling hesitant and afraid, she is not afraid of you. And furthermore, she is not put off by your fear of the unknown aspects of her. Macyn wants to connect with other humans and so she is going to do just that.
Here is how this plays out every day, multiple times a day:
Macyn passes you on the sidewalk: “Hi! What’s your name?”
Macyn meets you in line at a coffee shop: “Hi! What’s your name?”
Macyn see you on the playground at school or the park: “Hi! What’s your name?”
Macyn walks up to you at Target: “Hi! What’s your name?”
Macyn passes you in the parking lot while you’re getting in your car: “Hi! What’s your name?”
Honestly? For years, I was so uncomfortable with the counter cultural way Macyn interacted with people that I tried to stifle her, shushing her and pulling her along when in reality saying hello and asking someone their name is a basic act of human connection and kindness. And over the years Macyn has been one of my greatest teachers on what it means to be human, how to see the humanity in all and how to connect with others. In a society where we’ve been programed to stick to ourselves and allow our inhibitions to keep us from connecting with each other, Macyn and her unique way of reacting with the world around her has been a beacon of truth, hope and goodness. Everyday she shows me just what an asset Down syndrome is to her life, our family and the world. And today, rather than get anxious every time Macyn approaches a stranger to ask them their name I welcome it, sitting back and watching as this simple act of human kindness breaks down barriers and gives the person being approached an opportunity to get to interact with someone like Macyn making the unknown a little more known.
Here’s the thing; over the years hundreds, maybe thousands of people have reached out to me asking for advice on how to talk to their children about inclusion or how to find opportunities to make a more inclusive world. While there are college courses you can take on the subject, let’s take a lesson for Macyn. It’s simple really. The next time you see a person with Down syndrome or another disability, abandon your inhibitions, walk up and say these four simple words; “Hi! What’s your name?”, and in doing so you can join Macyn on her mission to connect humanity, spread kindness and create a world where everyone belongs.
This month, in honor of Down syndrome awareness and inspired by Macy, we are thrilled to introduce you to the, “Hi! What’s your name” tee. We hope that everytime you wear this shirt you will remember the power of these four simple words, planting seeds of connection and kindness everywhere you go.
