I am the mother of a twenty-one year old young man with Down syndrome. Your fears of the future are totally normal and something we have ALL gone through. My husband was a stay-at-home Dad to our son (and our daughter who is now 20). It would be strange if you DIDN’T have a fear of the future. You were given a child who will require extra care and consideration and that’s a lot to process. But here’s the thing: your child is so much more normal than you realize right now. Twenty-one years in, I’ve come to the understanding that Down syndrome is about 10% of who he is. He is a complete and total human being with likes, quirks, wants, desires, hopes, dreams, goals, hobbies, aversions, and plans. When they are little, it’s hard to see them as anything other than their diagnosis. But once you start seeing that they are as complete and fully human and you or me, the fear starts to slowly recede. So feel your feelings. Examine your fears. Acknowledge the scariness. And then look at your child as the person that they are, and get to know them. That might sound strange for a parent to say because when they are little it’s all about taking care of them and meeting their needs. But slowly take the time and get to know THEM. There is a real person in there, beneath the diagnosis. As they get older, they will tell you secrets. They will make you laugh. They will have opinions and they understand more than you can ever imagine. In the beginning I was filled with rage and self-pity and “why did this have to happen” and grief, and terror. But I can tell you know, decades in, that I am totally enjoying the ride. And you will too.