more about me

I am a thirty-something wife and mother of two toddler boys - Malakai and Harlan. My eldest son was born with Down syndrome, and so I am a passionate advocate for special needs and believer in the importance of early intervention and child development.

I am also a writer, blogger and almost-author, and spent many years as a photographer - although that has taken a back seat since welcoming a second child into the world.

I am passionate about parenting (it is the main topic I write about) and I have an instinctive desire to understand humanity and how we are made up of a mixture of nature and nurture. Keeping up to date on current affairs, as well as research into child development and early intervention, is something I do on the side. It not only makes me a better writer, but a better mother.

In terms of parenting, I am an A-typical parent who is desperately trying to simply enjoy my children's formative years while they're in the midst of it. I have to remind myself constantly to get out of my head and into the present moment, because otherwise I miss nurturing a real connection with my boys.

This is where the concept of Barefoot Parenting came from - my desire to really strip to the bare bones of what it means to be a good mama to my boys, without the million so-called-necessities that our consumer-driven society would have us believe are important.

I want to do a good job of raising my boys, in the most simple and natural way possible - especially challenging when my eldest son needs vast amounts of extra intervention. This blog is my journey - two parents, two boys and an extra chromosome.

If you would like to read the story of the first two years following my son's diagnosis with Down syndrome - take a peek at my first blog which is still online: www.malakaistow.blogspot.com