We’re all in this parenting boat together - sometimes sprinting along with confidence, other times crumpling under the weight of our worries and troubles. At the end of the day though, as much as we question ourselves, our unconditional love for our little ones is the strongest tool and affirmation of our success as mums and dads.

 

This is something that mum Beth Craver has learned, after welcomed her beautiful son Judah into the world one year ago.

 

Sharing her special story with The Mighty this week, Beth revealed how the comforting words of a nurse assured her that she was far from the ‘monster’ she thought she was, for crying when she found out her son had Down syndrome.

 

In the guest editorial, Beth admitted that despite being told otherwise, she always knew deep down that Judah had Down syndrome. And when she welcomed him into the world three weeks early, her instincts were confirmed to be on-point.

 

While she revealed that “a great deal of pain and fear shared our hospital bed” after Judah’s birth, within a matter of mere weeks her perspective had changed and she was soon “advocating like a momma bear”.

 

 

Recently, on her son’s first birthday, Beth and her family were invited to re-visit their maternity room, joined by their nurse friend as well as another who helped with the delivery.

 

This experience proved totally cathartic for Beth, who wrote of the special words the nurse had for her regarding her tears: “As we walked and talked, my friend told me how this nurse thought it was a sign of adoration that I cried — that I was so worried for my baby, so concerned about his health and future that tears fell out of love.”

 

This subject had long played on Beth’s conscience, as she questioned whether ‘crying for herself’ made her ‘a monster’. The powerful letter she received from her friend as she left the room quickly put her mind at ease.

 

“Judah arrived to a room spilling over with your love. And I don’t want that to sound horribly cliché, because that love was so essential. I wasn’t lying when you asked me if he was OK. Even if I had the insight that you had of his extra chromosome or was given the benefit of retrospect, I would honestly again answer ‘yes’. In that snapshot of time he was pink and cuddling skin-to-skin with you. I promise you, he only felt love as he listened to the comforting sound of his mother’s heartbeat. That moment was a genuine gift,” the letter read.

 

While this letter was written specifically for Beth, we are certain that many, many other mums and dads can relate to it.

 

Share this story if your heart was touched by this inspiring letter.

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