

The Festival of Arts | Laguna Beach, CA
Spring 2019 Dear Mom, Conference is here!
Read more about the Spring conference at the button below or scroll down the page.
THE EVENT IS SOLD OUT!
Thank you SO much, see you Saturday!
*Dear Mom, is an official Regional Center Vendor. Through your local Regional Center you can receive complimentary access to one seminar/conference per year by contacting your Regional Center Service Coordinator. Our vendor number is #PY1563. Upon receiving an authorization number, register here.
KELLE HAMPTON
New York Times Best Selling Author of “Bloom: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected.”
Liz Plachta
Co-Founder & Executive Director - Ruby’s Rainbow
Shauna Amick
Director of Radio Ministries - Joni and Friends International Disability Center
Sandi Ames
Child Advocate | Parent Mentor & Director - Parents CAN
Amanda Booth is an actress, model, and mama based in Los Angeles. She has appeared on network television shows such as Hot In Cleveland, Maron, and Community. Her campaign work includes advertisements for Lancome, Fiat, Hersheys, Target, and Old Navy. Her focus has broadened since becoming a mother in 2014 to a son with Down Syndrome. Amanda is now an ambassador for Changing The Face Of Beauty and Global Down Syndrome Foundation as well as a social media advocate.
Michelle Sullivan is the owner of Littlest Warrior Apparel and host of the Advocate Like a Mother™️ Podcast. She is married to Eric and they have 3 teenage daughters named Daphne, Gretta, and Roxanne. Nine years after their youngest daughter was born, Eli, who has Down syndrome, came along and opened Michelle’s eyes to the world of advocacy.
Jamie Lee Forever teacher and paralegal, speaker and advocate: Creating spaces for informed perspectives by sharing her journey within the world of disability as a parent, woman of color, educator and ministry leader. She sits on the board of a non-profit, Club 21 Learning and Resource Center. She is the founder of Quickpayportal & ACCESS, a church ministry that aims to provide inclusive opportunities in the faith community. Lastly and most importantly, she celebrates her best life with her husband Andrew, children, Shane (5) with Down syndrome, Shiloh (3), and dog, Tucker the Terror.
Jen Jones is an author, speaker and entrepreneur who communicates specifically on topics of faith, family, health and leadership. She is a gifted speaker, boldly communicating the Truth with grace, adding joy, increasing faith and building hope in others.
She is a wife to Marcus, a mom to Addie, Tatum, Brody and Piper. She is a certified health coach and currently serves alongside her husband at Center Church, a faith community they pioneered in downtown San Diego in 2014.
Heather Avis is wife to her handsome and hardworking man Josh, and mother to the adorable Macyn, Truly and August and Author of "The Lucky Few" (available everywhere books are sold). After working as an Education Specialist she found herself as a full-time stay at home mom when she and her husband adopted their first daughter, Macyn, in 2008. Shortly thereafter, in 2011, they adopted their second daughter, Truly. And in 2013, their son August was born and came home to be theirs.
As mother's raising children with Down Syndrome, we've discovered through community and vulnerability that we can thrive if we work together. We are all accustomed to the endless late night google searches, specialists appointments, and therapies. Thankfully, beyond those resources, we've found this wonderful secret that gives us strength when we share our stories and experiences, one mother to the next.
Hosted by moms just like you, Mercedes Lara and Amy Amaradio, are excited to meet you, offer some space, and insight in hopes to create a bright and beautiful future for our children with Down Syndrome.
What your feeling right now if perfectly normal. The feelings of sadness, uncertainty, grief this is all part of the process. Also know, that These feelings will not last. You may feel glimpses of them as time passes, but feelings of joy, love, adoration and being proud will far outweigh the not so great feelings.
Worry is a tricky thing, isn't it? It creeps into our hearts, slowly climbing and growing like sticky vines on a hot day. But mama, our hearts were made to beat freely, without the constraints of future fears. Our children teach us to live in the present. No one has a crystal ball…
I never knew life could be so good. You might be scared or sad and I was too. It’s okay and even an important part of the journey to grieve. My baby girl is everything I never knew I always wanted and your baby will be too. After many years and many failed attempts to have a baby, Emmy is the one that stuck.
I’m just going to say it; I did not want a baby with Down Syndrome. Our oldest daughter has autism and I already felt overwhelmed by the demands of being a special needs mom. So with the realization of our 20 week ultrasound, and confirmed blood work solidifying the Down syndrome diagnosis, I was angry!
First off...CONGRATS!! I know life may look a little different for you now, but I wanted to let you know that you don't have to let go of ANY of the dreams you had for your child prior to finding out about that tiny little extra chromosome. Please don't sweep those expectations and BIG dreams under a rug.
It’s ok to cry. To mourn the idea of what you thought your life was going to be with this little one growing inside you. Let it all out, but don’t let it consume you. Move forward because when you look back at this very moment you’ll wonder why you were so worried.
However your precious one came to be yours, know that you are the exact mom intended for them. No matter how capable or incapable you feel at times, you are theirs and they are yours. Yes they need you, but if your journey is anything like mine, you need them more.
Dear Mom, is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit organization committed to providing spaces, events, and resources for inspiration, rest, and community development for families and friends raising a person with Down Syndrome.
In addition to the annual conferences, we offer opportunities for moms and families to gather in hopes to link arms with each other on this challenging, but rewarding, journey we all share. This ongoing effort requires the support from our sponsors and conference ticket sales, but YOU (Yes mom, you and your family) can play a part by offering a one-time donation or by giving automatically each month.
We are so thankful for the amazing community support we have been given along the way. Now, you can truly play a tangible role in helping us to continue our effort by financially partnering with us today. We hope you would consider this incredible opportunity.
Dear Mom, the day my little miracle baby was born the neonatologist in his most pathetic sad voice broke the news to us that they suspected our little girl had Down Syndrome. I asked him, “does she have 10 fingers and toes? Is she breathing?” When his response was yes, I told him “well then give her to me so I can see her”.