The Rory Series 3/7: Erin/Mom

(The Rory Series 3/7: Erin/Mom)

"It was Rory’s freshmen year and she told us that she wanted to be a cheerleader. She was over the moon about it. But I was a wreck when I dropped her off on the first day of practice before tryouts. Not only did all the girls look so much older than she did, but she was the only girl with a disability. However, I felt so much relief when each day after practice she came home and said how fun it was and how many friends she made! On the last day of practice she came to the car and said “tryouts are tomorrow, I am so excited to be a cheerleader!” All the relief I felt when I learned about her new cheer friends was once again overshadowed by fear when she told me she would try out in a group of three. I smiled at her and said, “Okay!” but what I was really thinking was, “Will anyone pick her for their group?”, “Would she be blamed if the group did poorly?” I felt so much anxiety. Then I found out that some of the upperclassmen she had met at practice would be coming over that night to help Rory practice. Then the moment arrived: cheer tryouts! Rory was so nervous. When we arrived at practice her friends and coaches immediately started to pump her up. They took selfies together and told her “You got this girl”. Two other girls she already knew from school joined her tryout group and they showed up and did their best! When she came home that night after tryouts, she was so confident that she was going to be picked, she said “I need to stay up until midnight, that's when they will post results on Insta!” So her mom and I let Rory stay up way past her bedtime, patiently waiting for the post. Right around midnight the results were posted and Rory’s number was on the list! We cheered and hugged. Rory went on to make Varsity cheer and even worked hard to earn her letterman jacket. Her passion to learn and her fierce attitude are reminders everyday to never put limits on her. "

#TheLuckyFew #ThisIsDownSyndrome