My Graduate! Wow, what can I say about my 18 year old daughter, Chelsie N. Taylor? It all began on February 6th, 1993. Being 19 years of age, simply a baby having a baby, I had to grow up fast. I didn't find out until 4 hours after her birth what all the hustle-and-bustle of doctors, nurses and looks of concern were about. To me, she was perfect, all her toes, fingers, arms and legs. She was not abnormal to me but to everyone else she was. I remember the doctor coming to me to explain what was going on with my baby girl. To this day I knew everything was going to be a learning experience. 
We went through bowel surgery at five days old, heart surgery at six months old and minor surgeries that accompany "typical" childhood years. Then, at age three we started pre-school and I saw my little "train" that could blossom. There wasn't a day that went by where she didn't amaze me, from the day she rode the bus by herself to every little step, to sit up, to feed herself, to grip things to play with and to the one day she said what every mother wishes to hear: "Mommy!" 
One thing that I have learned from her is to take it day by day and to love unconditionally. I appreciate my daughter for teaching me how to love and to smile just because. I often wonder what it would be like to be in her "world" with peace and no worries. Today Chelsie is a healthy loving young lady who is proud to have Down syndrome and nothing gets in her way. As you can see, she is now a graduate of Caesar Rodney High School with a class of 412 other young adults. 
In August, we will be starting a new adventure, college; where she will continue to grow and learn life skills to allow her to be a part of a community and workplace. I am a proud mother of an 18 year old with Down syndrome - everyone can learn from them!