July 29 2023
Couldn’t take it! Barbie time!
“I’m just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us.” – American Ferrara (Gloria) … Made my eyes leak, big time.
Movie and pizza night with Lillian. Her choice: Peter Pan and Wendy. 🖤🧚🏼🖤
July 14 2023
Easing back to Reno with a walk and an amazing, refreshing swim.
Our flight landed about 11:30 last night, finally getting to bed about 1:30am.
We had an incredible and fun time this year. I forgot to post the photo I took of the Syndrome Coordinators in the closing slideshow.
Thank you to Matt & Julie who hosted this year’s conference. You did it!!!
July 23 2023
I had the best date tonight! Thomas leaves tomorrow for two and a half weeks, visiting friends in Philadelphia (and hopefully connecting with our C18 friends, Mike & Cierra!)
Thomas made me laugh so hard. Especially when they said I’m not like any of their friend’s parents, and that I’m normal. What? I’m normal. Thomas says they mean I’m a normal human. We had such rich conversation tonight. I plan on doing as much of this as possible before they leave for college next summer.
We went to Royce for burgers. I had the portobello burger. So good. Then stopped for ice cream at Icecycle Creamery for Thomas.
Ending with a stop at Aubry Harris Park, talking about the many years of memories here and Bartley Ranch. Car picnics while enjoying the view, scavenger hunts, and walks. My heart bursts with joy that we had all of these experiences together.
July 29 2023
This morning I’m grateful for Discord. Several years ago some teens met in the gaming world. They became friends. They met in person last summer, with one of the parents hosting them in New Jersey.
This summer, a parent is hosting in Philadelphia, with one of the friends coming all the way from The Netherlands! The teens created a group Discord message including all the parents. I love this technology! Thomas gets to have these amazing experiences, and I, and the other parents, get to follow along and know they are safe and happy. Life is beautiful. 🖤🌸🖤
July 18 2023
It’s nearly impossible for me to describe how much I love being in the water.
I had a luxurious swim this morning after my walk and HIIT workout. Felt delicious.
Also, cool clouds and lamppost outside of Shim’s Surplus last night.
July 21 2023
Umm, sir, what are you doing?
Came home from my workout to this. Chad Basil the First, so darn cute, even when he’s on the table, and he’s not supposed to be. 🖤🖤🖤
July 18 2023
This arrived in the mail just before we left for our trip. I’m so happy for and proud of Thomas that I could just burst, showering anyone near with love confetti. ❤️🎉❤️
**THROWBACK POST**
December 3 2012:
Thank you tons and tons to Lorna of Special Needs Book Review for sharing about ‘D iz for Different’!!! Check out the FB page .. GREAT resources y’all!
“Feelings of isolation and overwhelm keep special needs parents stuck, especially when coupled with deeply ingrained erroneous thought habits,” said Ms. Downs. “Special needs parents can unknowingly isolate themselves and begin viewing their lives in a negative way. These findings from the discussions and interviews that went to the writing of D iz for Different have been further confirmed by the hundreds of discussions that have been generated since its publication in May of 2012,” she added. Downs wrote and ….
Special Needs Book Review is pleased that yet another author agreed to introduce her book to our readers. This guest post is by Camilla Downs the author of D iz for Different – One Woman’s Journey to Acceptance. Since the book’s publication, Camilla Downs has undergone her own professional transformation with a career change from social media consultant to special needs parent coach and mentor, offering hope and guidance to others parenting kids with special needs. Congratulations Camilla on all your achievements! Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. First, who is Camilla Downs?
Camilla Downs is a special needs parent mentor, guiding parents to help them decrease feelings of overwhelm by shifting their views and showing them they are not alone. Her book, D iz for Different – One Woman’s Journey to Acceptance, was published in May 2012. The book offers Ms. Downs personal experiences in facing and overcoming life’s trials with grit and humor, along with providing practical “Tips for the Journey” throughout the book. Others parenting kids with special needs will be able to relate to Camilla’s journey.
More About the Author
D iz for Different – One Woman’s Journey to Acceptance by Camilla Downs will be of interest to others parenting children with special needs. Camilla Downs is also an advocate of living an adventurous, inspired and different life than expected. With these new life experiences, Camilla has now become a motivational speaker.
Team TLC helps parenting Kids with Special Needs Camilla is mom to 11 year old Lillian and 7 year old Thomas. Lillian is a child with special needs who was diagnosed with 18p- when she was 3 years old. They call themselves Team TLC and share their journey on the Team TLC website .
What Is 18p-?
D iz for Different – One Woman’s Journey to Acceptance- Powerful Truths for Others Parenting Kids with Special Needs by Camilla Downs
Camilla Downs is a Reno-based single mother of two children, one of them with a significant chromosomal disorder. Ms. Downs’ personal struggles inspired her to write D iz for Different – One Woman’s Journey to Acceptance specifically for parents of children with special needs. Downs’ work underlines a clear message: You need not feel isolated and overwhelmed. She offers this group of families, now numbering in the millions in the U.S., inspiration, hope and specific advice and actions to help them become unstuck and more effective in their personal and professional lives.
“Feelings of isolation and overwhelm keep special needs parents stuck, especially when coupled with deeply ingrained erroneous thought habits,” said Ms. Downs. “Special needs parents can unknowingly isolate themselves and begin viewing their lives in a negative way. These findings from the discussions and interviews that went to the writing of D iz for Different have been further confirmed by the hundreds of discussions that have been generated since its publication in May of 2012,” she added.
Downs wrote and self-published D iz for Different in less than a year, prompted by her experiences as a single parent devising creative solutions to life’s challenges, including financial struggles. Friends and professionals who saw the value of a self-help book geared towards parents of special needs children donated services including the book’s cover artwork and design, editing, proofreading, interior layout and design.
Endorsements for D iz for Different include Julie Zigler Norman, author of Growing Up Zigler: A Daughter’s Broken Journey from Heartache to Hope, and Jim Stovall, Emmy award-winning best-selling author of The Ultimate Gift.
Here is a short book trailer of “D iz for Different”
Amazon reviewer, Kathy Buchanan said, “An uplifting and honest book about facing life’s challenges. The book teaches you that how you respond to adversity is within your control and that you can still be happy even when circumstances are less than perfect…”
Camilla Downs author of book on parenting kids with special needsIn another Amazon review, Liz Arches said, “A is for Amazing, B is for Beautiful, C is for Camilla and Courageous…When you see someone who is making such a fantastic job of parenting in difficult circumstances as Camilla is, it can be awesome in the sense of ‘daunting’ as much as ‘inspiring’. It might be hard to imagine that you could ever do anything like the same. But first-time author Camilla is happy to admit that none of this came easy to her, and to acknowledge that it doesn’t come easy to anybody. She just wants to share the positive attitudes and techniques that have worked for her and which might be helpful for other parents, offering parents the opportunity to enjoy every minute of every day with their children. And it’s all presented in short, pithy chapters, so you can get on with that enjoyment all the sooner!”
July 22 2023
2023 Northern Nevada Pride Parade and Festival
So much fun. It was our first, and the VIP tent is definitely the way to go!
Ran into some of my Monday Night Poetry friends.
July 23 2023
I had so much fun yesterday at the Pride Festival, and continuing the celebrations last night at The Emerson. Temperature topped at 104. 🥵 I went from 10:00am to 11:00pm, dripping in sweat the entire time. I’m tired today. 😂🥱🤣 Worth it. It was fun to be surrounded by happy people all day.
July 21 2023
We’ve known each other since 2007, meeting at an eWomenNetwork networking event at Tamarack Junction.
This morning we met for a coffee chat. What fun!! It was great seeing you, Donna! Thanks for buying a 5 pack of my cards!
July 18 2023
Monday Night Poetry was amazing last night. From the time I arrived to the time I stepped in my door at home, it was a perfect night. The entire night felt freeing. 🖤💋🖤
The theme was, “Speaking Our Names”
What I shared, written yesterday afternoon:
Say My Name
Ca-mil-la
Kamala
Camelia
Camelot
Caramello
Or as my sharecropper grandmother pronounced it, Camiller, ah Camiller.
Let me count the ways my name has been mis-pronounced.
The many times a man has asked are you sure?
After I pronounced my own name?
What the fuck? You’re asking me if I’m pronouncing my name correctly?
It was 1969 as my parents
Sat watching the Johnny Carson show.
A stunning Swedish actress, popular in the 60’s and 70’s
Was a guest.
Her name, Camilla Sparv.
My parents must have liked the name
As that’s the name they chose for me.
Hearing my name as a child, and as a teen,
Brought shame and embarrassment.
You see, it was never pronounced correctly,
Causing me to have to speak up, letting teachers, adults
Know how to pronounce it.
This brought attention to me, and I did not want attention.
Up until recently,
When I saw my name
I would only see a whisper of myself.
Not really knowing who this person was.
However, these days when I see my name.
I see all that I have accomplished
I see tenacity, strength
I see a parent who has raised two amazing & authentic humans.
I see childhood and adult trauma that is being undone
Spun into a gold thread of power
A thread I use to weave
This new life I am creating
That shines and attracts those who have
Complimentary threads.
As I got older, I grew to adore my name.
It was different, unlike anyone else’s name.
And I loved that.
With each passing year, I grow and blossom
Into this unique name.
With each passing year, I love it even more.
I love that in my desire to stand out, not conform, and be my unique, neurospicy, weird, pisces self, it is the strong and stable root that supports me and bears the fruit of these desires.
Most of my life I have wanted to fade into the crowd.
This is no longer the case.
My name tastes like honeysuckle,
Smells like magnolia
Feels like silk
I see my name as a blessing, a gift
A springboard to the chaos and magic that is ME.
Thank you to my mom and dad for giving me this name.
Camilla. It’s pronounced Camilla. Like Pamela, but with a C.
Say my name, say my name, say my name.
Camilla, Camilla, Camilla
July 2023 Camilla Downs
