Out with the Old, In with the Love
Grown Ups & Downs by Mardra Sikora
by Mardra
1M ago
Ok Kids, January/Februaries have been rough on me the last, say…several years, with huge loss and hardships. This year, I have had some stupid, rough days and am also trying to recover from influenza. Which kicked me in the a**. Plus, I’m just going to get this off my chest, it was 5 years ago today my mother died. Her end-of-life was…tough, pretty bad actually, and I still haven’t really recovered. So, obviously, I’m having a “stress test” today and writing/posting much of this from a waiting room. You know, as you do. Body Vs Brain My body has focused on the negative, but to be honest, there ..read more
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Here we Go – 2024!
Grown Ups & Downs by Mardra Sikora
by Mardra
3M ago
Happy New Year! I’m starting 2024 with a bit of a free-write update for our friends who are keeping track. Back in 2013 It was upon the advice of the internet that I named this website mardrasikora.com, however, the overwhelming reason for most visits, is to check out the life, day-to-day and otherwise of Marcus Sikora. (My adult son with Down syndrome.) This Year’s Holiday So, let’s talk about Marcus at the family and friends over the holidays. He’s a delight, first off. Christmas is  magical in his presence because that is what he sees and reflects ten-fold. He’s an absolute blessing. O ..read more
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Music Therapy: Benefits and Our Experience
Grown Ups & Downs by Mardra Sikora
by Mardra
4M ago
Photo Provided by Megan Catalibe Photography Marcus has always been a performer in addition to a creator. The microphone is his instrument of choice. In his teen years and early adulthood, he often enjoyed going to Karaoke Nights with our friends. His specialty songs included Harry Belefonte’s “Banana Boat Song” and The Blues Brothers, “Soul Man,” among others. And, as you may know, in 2015 with the book launch of Black Day: The Monster Rock Band, there was the release of his music video featuring the song, “We are the Band (Black Day!).” The singing knack maybe came from growing up in house ..read more
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A Day in the Life of a Husker Football Fan
Grown Ups & Downs by Mardra Sikora
by Mardra
5M ago
Marcus and I had a good day in Lincoln yesterday. Cold, but good. I am a Husker Football fan. Marcus incrementally eased into fandom. Like most people, it started with the food and social aspect. He’d go to a live game with me once in a while, and take in the show of it. Several years back, the stadium added firework blasts after each score, that, on top of a brutal sunburn on the back of his neck, was the final straw. So he decreed, “I like the bar, instead.” Memorial Stadium This last week Marcus said, “Alright, fine. I’ll go to the stadium.”  Then, the weather “turned.” Fortunately, w ..read more
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October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month
Grown Ups & Downs by Mardra Sikora
by Mardra
5M ago
Hello! My name is Mardra Sikora.  I’m a mom of an adult son with Down Syndrome and I think “Awareness Months,” in general, are a good thing. At the very least, they give social media managers something new to share about. At best, they teach and remind those outside of a community of the issues that affect people inside a community, and facilitate more honest conversation and create allies. Way back in 2013 when I started this little site. I reasoned: Not awareness of Down syndrome, awareness of what is Down syndrome in the lives of the people we love. Sharin ..read more
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The Friction of Reentry
Grown Ups & Downs by Mardra Sikora
by Mardra
3y ago
Let’s talk about reentry. To Work of course Marcus’ first outings where human contact is possible (but masked) so far have been limited to coming to work with me on the weekends. No surprise as we are the “work club.” Yesterday he helped by placing sample description labels in folders. From a previous Building the Future Gala event, Marcus and Jeff Quinn. Advocacy Recognition Our first big outing will be at an event where Marcus will be recognized for his advocacy work by our local DSA, the Building the Future Gala. He’ll give a short speech and several of our  friends/family will be th ..read more
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Marcus and Quinn Perform Sikora’s 7 days of Christmas
Grown Ups & Downs by Mardra Sikora
by Mardra
3y ago
Enjoy! A bit of fun “for the season” – The Sikora’s 7 days of Christmas. The post Marcus and Quinn Perform Sikora’s 7 days of Christmas appeared first on Mardra Sikora ..read more
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A Healing Balm for the Down Syndrome Community and Allies
Grown Ups & Downs by Mardra Sikora
by Mardra
3y ago
The Global Down Syndrome Foundation each year hosts a fabulous event called Be Beautiful, Be Yourself. At this year’s event on November 14th,  we’re going to celebrate. We’re going to cry. We’re going to push forward. I’m the mother of an adult with Down syndrome.  There’s so much that I want to tell you, I hardly know where to begin… Shall I start with 2020 and Covid? Of how scared I am…I fear the possibility that my very breath can bring in a virus that kills people with Down syndrome at 10x the rate of the typical population? As I work to keep our basic necessities available, how ..read more
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Marcus Isn’t Selling Down Syndrome
Grown Ups & Downs by Mardra Sikora
by Mardra
3y ago
He’s Selling a Halloween Book Marcus is an author who has Down syndrome. He is a self-proclaimed (and proven) storyteller. As authors, we are taught; “People don’t buy books, they buy stories,” and sometimes these stories include the story of the author. Plus, in social networking and marketing we are taught, people don’t “like” an organization/website/whatever-you’re-selling, they “like” a community. People “like” being a part of something. Consequently authors, especially new authors, have to start with who they know. Our Community Our community is full of people who, as Marcus says, have a ..read more
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What I’m smiling at these days
Grown Ups & Downs by Mardra Sikora
by Mardra
3y ago
Ok, first things first, #1 this video! We are Goo Goo Dolls fans and have been since, oh…before some of you were born. (Well, probably not many under 21 reading this, but possible!) ANYway, Marcus and I have been singing along (and karaoke-ing too) to many a Goo Goo Dolls song over the years.  I even wrapped up the Goo Goo Dolls song “Iris” into a starter review of a few Broadway shows a few years ago. Marcus singing “Iris” is something that will never not rip my heart out. From when he was 10 years old and still today. So when I saw the Fan club was making a video to the new song “Fearle ..read more
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