Letting Your Child Lead: Sharon Ciummo on Down Syndrome and the Beauty of Letting Marco Be Marco

In this heartfelt episode of Moms Like Me, Jordan talks with Sharon Ciummo about her 21-year journey raising her son Marco, who was diagnosed with Down syndrome shortly after birth and later with autism and apraxia. Sharon shares the early shock of diagnosis, the grief that can return during milestones, and the hard-earned wisdom of learning to follow Marco's lead instead of forcing expectations onto him. From Christmas mornings filled with mismatched hopes, to therapy decisions, school placements, advocacy battles, and planning for adulthood, Sharon offers a grounded and honest perspective for any parent navigating disability, diagnosis, or simply the gap between the child they imagined and the child standing beautifully in front of them. This conversation is a reminder that parenting does not always mean pushing for more. Sometimes, it means slowing down enough to see who your child already is—and trusting that who they are is enough.