Val and I share an unexpected experience after being invited to an elementary school assembly where 300 students gathered for a presentation about Down syndrome led by a fourth grader named Hailey. What followed were thoughtful questions, funny moments, and a firsthand look at how deeply kids connected with our family, our mission, and the idea of adventure without limits.

Val and I sit down and talk about something we don’t always say out loud, what it actually looks like to raise Ren. We share stories from the early days to where we are now, the things that were harder than we expected, the things that took time, and the moments that shaped how we parent. It’s just an honest look at our life, the parts that don’t always get shared, and everything that comes with it.

Val and I sit down with our friend and neighbor Jen, a firefighter and mom whose daughters have become fast friends with our kids. What started as kids running back and forth between houses turned into something bigger. We talk about what it’s like for another family to step into our world, how naturally their kids have connected with Ren, and a school project that says more about what we’re doing than we ever could.

I sit down with Hannah, Hailey, and Roake and just let them talk. No plan, no script, just kids sharing what it’s actually like to know Ren. What stood out wasn’t what they said about Down syndrome, it was how little they thought about it. To them, he’s not a diagnosis, he’s just Ren.