Guest Writer

The festival may only be four days long, but Mayfest’s impact can be felt throughout the entire year! Mayfest has funded projects that not only enhance and beautify the community, but also create safe, nurturing places for families to be outside together.

The ever-changing complexities of medicine make this a difficult choice for many. Choosing healthcare options for oneself can be stressful enough, but the potential future health of an unborn child brings many more questions into the picture.

I don't remember much from the delivery -- but I remember hearing him cry for the first time. I remember my husband telling me how incredibly beautiful he was -- the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. I remember seeing him in the incubator as they wheeled him out of the room to the NICU. I remember feeling relief as I drifted to sleep. My baby was okay. My baby was healthy. My baby was PERFECT.

It’s hard to imagine not picking up your child for a day, much less a few weeks -- but after breast surgery, patients are advised to avoid heavy lifting for about a month. This includes babies and toddlers. One of the most helpful things you can do for your recovering friend is to cover mom duties such as bathing, putting the baby in the crib or carseat, and more active play.

There are more than 3,500 children in foster care in this region, according to statistics by the Texas Department of Family and Protective services. This means there is also an overwhelming number of mothers, fathers, and other family members currently experiencing crisis.

Looking around, I saw other moms of newborns with Down syndrome who were where I was three years earlier. Doing more than it all; feeling lonely, isolated. Attending local events and still feeling alone. Where were the moms of color? Surely we weren’t the only ones in the area? So I started the African American Parents of Children with Down Syndrome - DFW group. I became a special education teacher. My students are mostly minorities. Their parents know I get their struggle -- of being a “special parent" to a special child.

Just because you have acquired the names Mom and Dad doesn't mean sex has to turn into a boring chore to check off your to-do list. While it is totally normal for relationships to fall into ruts and for sex to become . . . ahem . . . a bit mundane, there are plenty of ways to heat things up again!