Let me start by saying that I love all of your products. Pampers are the only diaper I use!  In my opinion, they’re the only ones that mask the pee pee smell.  This is not an attack, this is a friendly suggestion.

As a mom who had an unexpected diagnosis for her baby after birth, I was extremely fragile for a long time.  It was hard for me to face the world, because I was no longer the person that I was before, and still had to figure out my new identity.  I was scared of seeing anything about Down syndrome, because I just wanted to enjoy my son for a moment without being reminded of the struggles and health issues that may lie ahead.  The stress of it all was so overwhelming.

That being said, your emails that I had subscribed to and previously enjoyed turned into something I absolutely hated.  I would get monthly emails that would say things like “Congratulations!  Your baby is 3 months old!  He is holding his head up and checking out the world!”

Each and every time, these emails would give me a sinking feeling in my stomach.  My son was not holding his head up at that time, and these emails were reminders as to why.  It was more like a notification that said: “Good morning!  Don’t forget, your son will have a hard time doing some things!”

I wanted to include an example in this post, but I had deleted them immediately because they caused me so relive something I wasn’t ready for.

I am writing this letter to beg you to be more sensitive to mommas like me, who gave birth to children destined to be a little behind developmentally.  As a loyal customer, I do not want to feel excluded from the monthly celebrations, and I don’t want those celebrations to turn into a source of anxiety.  My son is crushing it, and hitting his developmental milestones like a pro, even if he is a little behind!  I am so extremely proud of him, and I don’t want an email to make me feel like I shouldn’t be!

In fact, excuse me while I brag a moment, just last night he sat up unassisted for five minutes straight during physical therapy!  His previous unassisted sit was 30 seconds!  Way to go, baby!

Aside from Down syndrome, there are hundreds of reasons that babies could be behind.  So, in the future, it would be so awesome if these emails could just be a monthly celebration, and not  include “typical” developmental milestones.  Hopefully, if you do it, maybe other sites will follow your lead, or at least be sensitive to the issue.

I know it isn’t your job to be sensitive to my feelings as a parent, but if this blog has taught me anything, it’s that if I feel this way then there must be other mothers out there that feel the same.

#celebratemyson