World Down Syndrome Day 2014

For those of you who don't know, it's World Down Syndrome Day.

I do not have a family member with Down Syndrome.

My beautiful sister has, however, faced many of the same challenges that those with Down Syndrome do.

I love the video that my friend Carly posted on Facebook today.

It rings true for me as I have watched my sister do what many thought she never would.

She has held the same job for over 10 years and gets to it on her own.

She cooks for herself and cleans the condo that she pays a mortgage on.

She does it all without complaining and takes a huge amount of pride in doing it well.

The part of this video that really got me choked up is the glimpse of the Moms.

They're not the stars of the show. 

They wouldn't want to be.

They just want to see their child succeed.

You know each and every one of them has cried, worried and feared just as that first Mom did.

Then they promptly moved forward, worked hard and sometimes fought against discrimination and assumptions.

I watched my parents do exactly that for my sister.

It goes without saying that Pamela is a huge inspiration for me and I know I need to tell her that more frequently.

But I don't know that I've ever told my parents how inspiring I think they are for giving her the happiness she has.

"Everyone has the right to be happy."