Page 94 - Mother & Baby - UK (March 2020)

MUM MATES!

‘We’re moral support for each other’

I’m very active on Facebook, so often
get direct messages from other mums. Sarah (left)
This particular one stood out, though; provided a
was from a mum-to-be called Pamela positive example
who, at 37 weeks pregnant, had found for Pamela
out her baby had Down’s Syndrome.
She’d contacted me for advice because
my son Oscar also has Down’s Syndrome
and I regularly post about the joys and
challenges of life with him.
“Don’t panic,” I immediately wrote
back to her. “Take a look at my page,
and I’ll try to help.” That feeling
of shock was all too familiar to me.
I wanted to give her reassurances
that the way she was feeling was
normal, and although she was
facing challenges, the future was
positive. I am proof of that.
We kept in touch on Facebook
over the next few weeks. She’d
comment on my posts, and I was
so pleased to be able to show her
how much fun Oscar and I have
together. We shared private
messages, too. I could sense she was
coming to terms with the news, and
starting to look forward to the
future. As she prepared to give
birth, and later during her son
M ’ b k
Sarah
Roberts, 41, a system for one another. There was
writer, lives in Surrey definitely a special connection.
with husband Chris Then, when Mason was a few weeks
and children Flo, old I suggested meeting up. Pamela
three, Alfie, five,
and Oscar, and Mason travelled to my house from
seven Luton and we instantly hit it off. I think
it put her mind at rest to actually meet
Oscar and see what a normal family we
are. From that point, Pamela and I formed a
strong friendship. These days, we still chat on
Facebook, but we also get our families together
for playdates during school
holidays, and for
birthday parties.
Pamela even came
to support me
when I ran a
marathon. And
although our
friendship was
formed because of
our boys, it’s become
much more than that.
Oscar and Mason It just proves the power
brought the of social media to
pair together reassure and inspire.