The One With Raising A Differently-Abled Child

We are fortunate enough to work with the best parents and we want to help you by sharing their secrets. Each Monday, we will launch a new blog series, sharing a post with our most admiral mommas. We take a moment to celebrate their highest achievement and share their best, most anticipated tips + tricks for successful days ahead. 

Being a mom of a “differently-abled” child has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. My name is Celina. I am a full time working mama of three based in sunny California. My 2nd child, Soléa, was born with a congenital birth anomaly. When she was born, it was discovered that her right arm stopped just below her elbow. This was never caught on any of the ultrasounds I had, so can imagine how shocked I was to find out my newborn baby was born with part of her right arm missing. My initial reaction was sheer sorrow thinking that my daughters life would be filled with difficulties and heartache fearing that she would struggle in life with constant obstacles. Nothing was further from the truth. My precious baby girl crawled just like a normal baby, she was very independent and wanted to do things on her own. She learned to button her buttons, zip up zippers, tie her shoes. Heck, she was just like a normal child.

I worried how I was going to show her how to do things being that I had both of my hands to do them. Instead, she showed me that I should never doubt someone just because they were born different.

Since very young, Soléa would be that child that went up to you at a park and introduced herself. Any time a child asked what happened to her arm; she’d simply say: I was born that way, and go about her business. Fast forward to now: Soléa is 7 years old, has never had an issue making friends, she’s a social media influencer and she is a signed model for a very well known talent agency in Los Angeles: Zuri Model & Talent. Soléa has booked jobs for Target, Gap Kids, Old Navy and a campaign for Puma. Soléa loves inspiring others and shining in front of the camera.

The moral is, no matter what, always believe in your children. Teach them to be confident and love themselves the way they were born born because the way you treat them is the way they will learn to treat themselves. I must say I am one proud mama bear and I wouldn’t want my beautiful daughter born any other way.

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