An Outstanding Award for MADs Down Syndrome Blogs

My raw emotions captured by Tom Arber 

6,500 blogs were nominated

Over 25,000 votes were cast

On Friday night the winners of the 

MAD Blog Awards were announced

Outstanding Contribution Awatd for Downs Side Up and a Best Food Blog Awards (pictured here) for Frugal Queen 

My Mad Blog Awards Poem

For once no nerves on that blissful, quiet train ride 

No child to placate, no "mummy"s to field

No speeches to deliver or media to court

This adrenaline-free trip, a treat for me

Soaked deep in scented bubbles, bathed to a prune

Heavenly! Decadent room service and a little fizz

As I planned what to wear, how to scrub up

A #post40blogger, remembering what it's like

A time to hug online angels who lift and carry
Technical tips for the bewildered, counter the trolls 
Who comfort, share, advise and support
My collaborative online family

So very proud to be chosen, heard, read

So very humble to witness the power of our words

So very determined to keep our community going

So many thoughts in my head, my heart swelled

Such diversity danced before me

Pregnant, gay, special needs, Mums, Dads too

The PR gurus and those with a message

My original motivation rose to the fore:

Support for new parents and

Stem the fear of Trisomy 21

And as the tribute film rolled

So sprang forth the tears

The sobs, wracking, shaking, wrapped in guilt and love

So much more than a glass award

The trophy I want remains far from grasp

I clutched Dr Ranj as he whispered that he understood

His words of encouragement; to keep up the pace 

To never give up trying

To get the world to embrace, accept and include

Not seek to eradicate or hide from view

Thank you Dr Ranj for your encouragement

_______________

So very proud to know and work alongside every one of these finalists. And huge love to Team Honk for shining the way, and drawing us all in to your fabulous fundraising. 

Outstanding Contribution Bloggers

This award recognises that blogger who has contributed most to their community, through campaigning, charity work and practical support, and was sponsored by Thorntons. These are bloggers nominated by their peers and winners were chosen by the judges.

Crazy with Twins

Downs Side Up

Edspire

Emma and 3 

Gammon and Chips

London Bird Lucy

Mammasaurus/Team Honk

Mummy Barrow 

Spewing Mummy

Thinly Spread 

The MADs Outstanding Contribution Bloggers take to the stage

With special thank you to:

Sally Whittle and sponsors Parentdish for putting so much effort in to a fabulous evening. 

All my fellow Outstanding Contribution finalists who work so tirelessly to change the world in so many ways.

The Royal Garden Hotel for making me so welcome (and giving me a cheeky upgrade.)

My dinner neighbour, Tim from Halfords (and apologies for making him cry get something in his eye whilst eating his panacotta).

To Mummy Barrow for holding my hand.

Fellow Team T21 bloggers Tom from the Futures Rosie and Sarah from Don't Be Sorry for also striving to make the world a better place for those with Down's syndrome. Congratulations to both for winning awards, Best Blog, Best Writer and Best Newcomer respectively!

CBeebies Dr Ranj for quite simply being incredibly supportive, remembering my name from last year, reading my letter to Richard Dawkins and, despite the bouncy exterior, and ambidextrous eyebrows, being seriously genuine and absolutely 'getting it'.

To Spewing Mummy for sharing a taxi ride from Paddington and educating me further about HG.

To My Two Mums, Skint Dad, Chris Mosler, Gammon and Chips, Merrily Me, Suzanne, Rachel Edwards and Steph Curtis for making my trip unforgettable. 

Read about 

our year and all we have achieved here. 

The Rollercoaster of Life: A MAD Bloggers Day Out

A MADs Day Out to Legoland Windsor

The MAD Blog Award finalists and their families

There were MAD bloggers galore
new faces and some seen before.
it was a chance to meet before the big night
and thank our families for their support.

Hayley, Natty and Mia from Downs Side Up

That surreal gulf between knowing an avatar
and spotting someone in reality.
I missed many, for which I kick myself.
I promise to learn names, blogs and Twitter handles.
I will!







New friendships were forged.
puppy love blossomed.
children were nervously chased
as conversations remained half finished.

Natty's day out; eating doughnuts

Too much sugar was consumed
adrenaline made us squeal.
boundaries were pushed
new experiences devoured.

We jumped queues with our gold status
collected badges along the way
our lanyards the souvenir
of a fabulous day..

Reluctance to end each ride
drops of rain, plastic ponchos
tears at the 4D film
we negotiated our lows

Allowing safe risk, letting go
takes practice for me.
feelin sick with each twist and turn
we watched Natty and sis devour the day with gusto.

Up, up and away

"By myself!"

Soon climbing wasn't enough
Natty wanted the exciting stuff!
My phobia of rollerscoasters
had to be concealed.
(As you can see I hid it perfectly!)

Fun at Legoland

So we ended on a high!
The kids got me on a roller coaster
all the while protesting that I have been pushed screaming bravely jumped out of an aeroplane for charity once and that I have nothing to prove!

Home we came,
Natty snored all the way
and woke this morning chattering
"Mummy scream, Mia scream, Natty scream, Daddy scream."


Thank you MAD Blog Awards and Legland Windsor for your hospitality.
xxxx

Silent Sunday

MAD Blog Award Finalist: Outstanding Contribution

I find this kind of blog post difficult to write. 

It's sort of embarrassing and I can certainly think of a couple of others who should be standing where I am now, some bloggers I nominated myself in fact.

pride

But I am so very enormously proud to have been shortlisted as a finalist in the MAD (Mums and Dads) Blog Awards. The email came through on Mother's Day, which had been a bit different as my husband was working away. As I sat alone in the kitchen after the girls had gone to bed, I read and the tears began.

I rang my mum who was immensely proud. Then I went back to read the email again, just to be sure.

Yes, I had been shortlisted as one of 10 finalists in the surprise category that had been opened after the voting (or nominating as they call it, which confused silly old me, and led me not to ask even my family to vote for me, oooops). This category was called Blogger who has made an Outstanding Contribution.

I can't even write that without welling up again. Good grief.

Now first of all I'd like to say that what I do, the Downs Side Up stuff, is not for any recognition or reward or payment. Basically I saw that the World was fearful of Down's Syndrome, so I began trying to change the World for my daughter and other families, so that they can have the best possible life. I also didn't want any other parents to feel as desperate as I did in the early days, purely out of ignorance and my own fear, so to them I offer tips, advice and hope.

Of course, the blog was how it all began. Downs Side Up is 16 months old now but the blog has long since become the hub of a large wheel of activity. I don't want to bore you, and even I find it hard to remember it all, so here's a list of some of the things I've done this year, in no particular order;

• I've met prospective parents and new parents for coffees and chats, and written to many hundreds of families online, often simply pointing them in the direction of a charity or organisation that can help them.

• The blog was voted 8th Top European Blog and 10th Top Family Blog by Circle of Moms readers.

• I became the Britmums Special Needs Editor, producing a round-up of the best posts around monthly.

• I was honoured to be the keynote speaker at the British Institute of Learning Disabilities annual conference, talking to professionals about my journey.

• I was invited to give Evidence in Parliament at the multi-party Enquiry into the Disability Abortion Law, where I pushed home the lack of support that families get when making such a decision, using anecdotes from those I have chatted to.

• I was asked to speak at the Salvation Army Conference and a local church group working on disability services.

• I've gone into local schools to talk to youngsters about inclusion and Down's Syndrome

• I have met amazing adults with learning disabilities and been inspired by them on my own journey as we have become friends.

• I've produced a little DVD to show to medical professionals, giving guidance on delivering a diagnosis and language used.

• I've posed naked, apart from a pair of mismatched funky socks, to raise funds for our 3 favourite DS charities. Yes, it was terrifying. @Kateonthinice made me do it!

• I've done last minute radio interviews on many subjects from disability benefits to parenting and blogging for BBC Radio Devon, BBC Radio Cornwall, Spin Radio and Heart Radio. 

• Natty became one of the UK's first models with Down's Syndrome. She has worked for Frugi, Jojo Maman Bebe, Eden Project and Scott Dunn.

• I found 7 other models with DS in the UK and organised a meeting at the DSA Head office for a celebratory photoshoot which ended in a lovely positive article in The Sun. See the behind the scenes fun here as our children change the face of advertising and encourage companies to be more inclusive.

• We've chatted on the ITV Daybreak sofa and stolen Kate and Dan's Danish pastries live on air.

• Made 500 people cry and stand in an ovation at Britmums Live after listening to What to Say When a Baby is Born with Down's Syndrome. (They are hoping to get Kleenex to sponsor this year!)

• ITV Westcountry featured us and our chickens in a piece about modelling and blogging.

• We've been featured in Bella Magazine, The Sun, Cornwall Today, The Mail and The Express and Woman's Own.

• I've sat through the night writing open letters to bigots, such as Geoffery Clark and Colin Brewer, there was a Girl Guides Brown Owl too. The letters have gone viral.

• I organise linkies and guest posts sessions to encourage others to write and share their experiences, for blogging is so cathartic.

• I've written articles and guest posts for SEN Magazine, Mummy and Me, My Child and Me, Learning Disability Today, Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities, Elite Magazine, the Makaton Charity, MamaUK and so many more.

• I'm flying to Edinburgh to speak at the launch on 21st March of an incredible, powerful new photographic book called 6% My Photographs, Their Words by Graham Miller which features families and young people with Down's Syndrome. 

• I am spreading the word that 21st March is World Down Syndrome Day and encouraging as many people as possible to get involved to spread awareness.

Well, you get the idea.

But to have that recognised is... well, I am very proud and it means that my efforts are having an effect.

Downs Side Up now takes up as much time as a full time job, mostly late into the night and when the children are at school. We live in Cornwall, so all that toing and froing to London is a bit of a pain, and we are often out of pocket. I sometimes have to turn things down because I can't fit it all in. We've even talked about moving to enable me to further my work.
I feel I have a duty to carry on, because I can.
And people seem to like listening and reading, so that's a bonus :)

The message is spreading that our children are a wonderful enhancement in life. So essentially all the late nights are worth it. So I'll carry on if you don't mind...

Thank you to everyone who nominated me for this award. I already feel like a winner and am in extraordinary company. I think all 10 finalists should all just have a group hug on the night. And thank you to everyone who has lifted me, inspired me and encouraged me. Those who have heped me through the scary moments when the trolls said unspeakable things and I nearly gave up through fear, those who helped spread the word, those who demanded I continue to shine a light into the darkest of shadows.

Thank you all.

H x