Sep 21, 2026 · 40 min · 11 segments
Kelsey Reid is my first guest back after the summer and it’s perfect timing because she’s on to talk about her decision to home educate her daughters Maizie & Maddie. We discuss what that actually…
Kelsey ReidGuestGemmaHostCan I ask, how did you feel getting Maddie's diagnosis when she was nine months old? So before really you're starting to see what kind of, you know, little girl she's going to be.
How did you feel as her mum getting that diagnosis, I guess, for a second time?
I think it's terrifying because you go straight to adulthood, don't you? So it's like, is she going to be independent? How is she going to live? Who's going to look after her when I can't look after her? And Maddie still needs a lot of support, a lot.
so and window locks as well she loves the windowsills she's got no no sense of danger whatsoever so it's quite terrifying isn't it to think is she going to grow out of here who's going to look after her you hear all these horror stories and the homes with the independent living with the care and it's just the thought of somebody looking after her who isn't one of us is terrifying
see I can't go there I think I've got to that place of acceptance because Leo is Leo's about to turn four so you know similar ages yeah And I think I've definitely, I'm more than okay with the fact he's got Down syndrome.
And with his diagnosis, it brings beautiful things that he wouldn't have if he didn't have Down syndrome.
So actually,
as a really positive thing, which is something I never thought I would end up saying, but that thing about the future and what's it going to look like and where is he going to go and what about when we're not, it's just something I've accepted.
I can't go there in my head.
So just don't.
Yeah.
No, no, no, no.
But I think it's really good, though, to acknowledge that because if you have got a child who is definitely going to need that extra support, you know, the way that you say that Maddie's autism presents, she is likely to need that extra support as an adult.
Leo will need that extra support as an adult.
Yeah.
There are adults who live independently with Down syndrome.
I don't know the stats.
I would say that's probably a smaller amount, probably a significantly smaller amount than adults who do need that additional support.
And I think I always want this podcast to be overarching, a positive thing.
But it's definitely important to acknowledge those things because it makes everyone else feel like they're not in it on their own, doesn't it?
Can I ask, how did you feel getting Maddie's diagnosis when she was nine months old? So before really you're starting to see what kind of, you know, little girl she's going to be.
How did you feel as her mum getting that diagnosis, I guess, for a second time?
I think it's terrifying because you go straight to adulthood, don't you? So it's like, is she going to be independent? How is she going to live? Who's going to look after her when I can't look after her? And Maddie still needs a lot of support, a lot.
so and window locks as well she loves the windowsills she's got no no sense of danger whatsoever so it's quite terrifying isn't it to think is she going to grow out of here who's going to look after her you hear all these horror stories and the homes with the independent living with the care and it's just the thought of somebody looking after her who isn't one of us is terrifying
see I can't go there I think I've got to that place of acceptance because Leo is Leo's about to turn four so you know similar ages yeah And I think I've definitely, I'm more than okay with the fact he's got Down syndrome.
And with his diagnosis, it brings beautiful things that he wouldn't have if he didn't have Down syndrome.
So actually,
as a really positive thing, which is something I never thought I would end up saying, but that thing about the future and what's it going to look like and where is he going to go and what about when we're not, it's just something I've accepted.
I can't go there in my head.
So just don't.
Yeah.
No, no, no, no.
But I think it's really good, though, to acknowledge that because if you have got a child who is definitely going to need that extra support, you know, the way that you say that Maddie's autism presents, she is likely to need that extra support as an adult.
Leo will need that extra support as an adult.
Yeah.
There are adults who live independently with Down syndrome.
I don't know the stats.
I would say that's probably a smaller amount, probably a significantly smaller amount than adults who do need that additional support.
And I think I always want this podcast to be overarching, a positive thing.
But it's definitely important to acknowledge those things because it makes everyone else feel like they're not in it on their own, doesn't it?
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