SO PROUD OF MY SPARKLING LITTLE SISTER

I y - w o . e e e d er an- le en she was five years old and she refused to remove her tutu before a shopping trip.

Standing proud in her green wellies, a navy raincoat and pink tutu – I knew from that point that she was going to follow her own path in life and that was perfectly fine with us.

Fast forward to the present day and she is now 19 and attends Derwen College, a college in Oswestry for students with learning difficulties and disabilities.

Carys shares a room with another female student and I see it as her own university experience. She is having a whale of a time by all accounts!

She has never struggled to make friends and it’s a great opportunity for her to learn independent living skills and improve her language.

In terms of her development, Carys’ language is the one thing that is challenging for her. She is unable to have full conversations, but it doesn’t stop her communicating her wants and needs.

Carys is so bright in so many ways. She is an excellent judge of character and has a sixth sense when it comes to people’s emotions.

Always ready to give a cwtch when you’re feeling sad or in need of reassurance, she is incredibly loyal and very supportive.

I must say as well, since she was born, everyone has been very kind towards Carys and nobody has said anything offensive – not that she’d stand for it anyway!

Sweeping generalisations are as bad as it gets. People will say things like: “They are so loving aren’t they?” “They are great at dancing and are always so happy.”

I guess the one thing that does bother me is a word that turns my st stomach and can make me fiercely protective of Carys and other people w with Down’s syndrome.

“Mong” is short for “m “mongoloid” which used to be a term to describe pe people with Down’s syndr drome.

I still hear the word us used a lot and wince every timI time I hear it.

I personally think it’s as off offensive as any racial slur and do try to pick people up when they say it.

A memory of Carys I will che cherish for ever was when she was my bridesmaid last September.Sep

SheSh performed her brid bridesmaid duties perfectly by joiningj my Amsterdam hen do and being by my side on my big day.

I Ih hope one day Carys will meetmee her Prince Charming, live i independently and have a job of her own.

ButBu more than anything, I just w want her to be happy.