The Joy of Parenting a Child with Down Syndrome (with Erin Thielman)


My guest this week is Erin Thielman, a disabled veteran who served in the U.S. Air Force before and after 9/11. She later met her husband Jason and they have been married for almost 13 years. Together, they have three children- Alexander, Abby and Andrew. Erin was a teacher until her youngest child, Andrew was prenatally diagnosed with Down Syndrome. Erin is a Down syndrome advocate, a pro-life advocate and especially enjoys speaking to youth and young adults.



Snippet from the Show

The light of Christ shines in the darkest places.


Shownotes

A child with Down Syndrome is a precious gift from God that softens the heart of humanity.


Shownotes

Happy Easter (it lasts 50 days, you know)!

Erin shares about her experience with Andrew’s diagnosis, how she felt unsupported by many in the medical field, and how she finds joy living her calling as Andrew’s mom. Erin also shares some touching stories and tells us about Down Syndrome Awareness Day (March 21).. You can learn more about Erin by visiting her website at ErinThielman.com.

At the end of today’s show, I read the introduction to my new book, Whisper: Finding God in the Everyday, which is still available for pre-order. We will be hosting a mini book club, right here in the podcast, beginning in June. I hope you will join us!

I have received so much feedback from all of you about my book and the first chapter that I shared with you at the end of episode 210Giving Thanks and Letting Go: Reflections on the Gift of Motherhood is a book in which I share from my heart about the very real changes, challenges, triumphs, and joys of being a mom in an “emptying nest.” You can read that sample chapter at Ave Maria Press. (Use the coupon code BEAN20 to get 20% off your order!)

My book, You Are Enough: What Women of the Bible Teach You About Your Mission and Worth, is available for order! Use the code, GIRLFRIENDS to receive ten percent off your order. Don’t miss out on this special available exclusively to listeners of the Girlfriends podcast. 

Have feedback or an idea to share? I would love to hear from you!



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Megan Madden

Megan Madden is a homeschooling mother with a passion for writing and speaking on authentic femininity and virtuous womanhood. In 2017, she began graduate studies in marriage and family at the International Theological Institute in Austria. After moving to Kraków, Poland to work with university students, Megan more personally continued her research on the complementarity of man and woman, particularly on the question of what it means to be a woman. She delved into the study of renowned Catholic writers on women such as St. Edith Stein, Gertrude von le Fort, Alice von Hildebrand, St. John Paul II, and St. Teresa of Avila.

The results were the development of Megan’s online ministry A Mother’s Lace, as well as speaking opportunities and her book with Ascension: Mary, Teach Me to Be Your Daughter.

Megan lives outside of Oxford, England with her husband, who is a lecturer in theology, and their five children.

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