Living a full family life and not being held back by a diagnosis | with Oakley Peterson of Nothing Down About It (TLBP #41)

Oakley Peterson of Nothing Down About It was one of the first people I knew I wanted to interview on my podcast. From the time Oakley was 10 until her first year in college, Oakley traveled from city to city playing bass guitar and singing backup vocals in her all sister rock n roll band called 8 Brown Eyes. Oakley shares some of her favorite moments from her experience and how now as a mom of 3, she and her musical husband implement music into their home. Growing up with all sisters, Oakley looked forward to the day she could have a little boy and envisioned as the little sports buddy to her husband, playing little league and going to all the sports games. A year after their first baby was born, a little girl, a firecracker like her mom, Oakley became pregnant again and carried their second, a little boy, through a typical pregnancy. Upon his birth and right in the middle of Oakley experiencing the euphoria of holding her son, the nurses began questioning her about her quad screening and soon took him away to be examined by a doctor. Oakley could not stand being a part from him, so after some time she made her way down the hall, only to greet her husband coming back with the news that indeed their son had Down Syndrome. She said she will never forget his face. Oakley shares the moments ahead as she experienced a mourning of the child she thought she would have and the overwhelming love for the child she had. She tells of the negativity toward Down Syndrome that generally exists on the internet and from medical professionals, and how her sorrow and fear melted after about a month of being Welles’ mom and feeling of his overflowing love, and the role that finding other moms with children with special needs played. Oakley shares her feelings on becoming Welles’ advocate and voice in the world and the hurtful words of a friend that helped spark her to start her blog Nothing Down About It to help others to see what she sees in her son and that her son’s life is worth just as much as her daughter’s. She openly shares her moments of fear and exhaustion, but knows that all mothers experience similar things with their children. She shares how they are the lucky ones to have him in their home and how everyone should experience this. Her voice has been carried to millions to share the joy and life lessons she has learned from her “little professor” and how they have been able to experience everything in family life that she had envisioned and more. Come listen ready to feel the passion and love of this advocate mama.

Want to know if this episode it for you? This episode is perfect for someone who wants to learn more about family life with a child with Down’s Syndrome or any child with special needs. It is also perfect for anyone facing an unexpected change when expectations were great. It is also great for those who believe that everyone matters and we should help be their voice.

What is this episode about? In this episode you will learn about:

Oakley’s childhood growing up in a rock band called 8 Brown Eyes with her sisters
how her parents were everyone’s favorites
how crazy she is about Taylor Hanson
how they implement music into their home now as parents
how she and her husband met and the early years of marriage
why Oakley was so excited to have a boy and what her expectations were
what happened in the hospital and why Oakley
why they call Welles “little professor” and what he has taught them
why Oakley started her blog Nothing Down About it
what a friend said that was so hurtful
the rich and full family life they lead
those things that creates worry for her
her biggest struggle of wanting everyone to see and love him like she does
her feelings about the ‘r’ word
Welles developing friendships
how does Oakley become rejuvenated
what she misses about life before kids
what she loves about motherhood and family life despite hard days
how having a child that appreciates things has helped her to appreciate things
what she expects from her future
her advice to new moms of children with special needs
her definition of real perfection