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He doesn’t need sight just a guide who believes in him.

Ashton had his first track meet of the season and he started by running the 1600 meter race and it was a hard one to start with. He almost came in last and he was very frustrated and hard on himself for it.

The second race he did was the 400 meter race and he asked one of his old guide runners to help him in this one and he encouraged him so much. I think both of his guides were amazing that day but his second guide really helped him go around each runner he wanted to pass.

I watched Ash cross the finish line and turn around to hear how many runners were coming after him. He does this at every race and he was so proud of how many of them his guide helped him pass.

Blind runners don’t need sight to run races they really just need a guide who believes in them and encourages them to keep going during the race. #blindkidscan #blindnessawareness #blindrunner #trackmeet

Video description: A blind teen boy walks with his cane on the track, then he stands by his guide with a tether, then he runs and goes from being the last one in the race to passing 3 runners and crossing the finish line.

He doesn’t need sight to find Easter eggs because he has his little sister.

Last year Ocean came up with the idea of being a beeping Easter bunny after she realized we didn’t have any beeping Easter eggs for Ash to do an egg hunt on his own.

Being independent is so important for my son and for many years we used to help him during egg hunts and just pick up the eggs for him until Ocean came up with this idea.

She knew Ash wasn’t able to see the eggs but he would be able to hear them so she started beeping next to them to help him find them. We’ve never been able to find beeping Easter eggs for him so this is what she came up with to help her brother do something she loves every Easter.

Ashton will never miss an egg hunt because being blind doesn’t mean we can’t find other ways for him to participate. And also because he has the most amazing little sister who does this for him every year. #blindkidscan #disabilityparenting #blindnessawareness #accesibleegghunt

Video description: A boy runs with his white cane towards his little sister standing by each Easter egg beeping, he picks up each egg and puts it in his basket, then they both smile after they get all their eggs.

She may not look Latina but she knows and understands her heritage.

Ocean always gets this from other kids who tell her at school that she doesn’t look half Peruvian or Latina at school.

She tells me a lot of the kids don’t believe she’s half Peruvian because she looks more like her dad. The truth is she may not look Peruvian but she’s 100% Latina inside.

She has the exact same personality and attitude as her mama. She loves dancing to music in Spanish and she knows more about Peruvian culture than most adults do.

Ella no es gringa es 100% latina. #motherdaughter #peruvian #latinamama

Video description: A little girl dances in front of her mom in a kitchen, while her mom wears leaves and watches her, then she smiles as she dances with her daughter.

He doesn’t need sight to place in a race with his guide.

On Monday, Ash had another track meet and he was determined to place in the 400 meter race. I always thought placing was just first, second and third but at his meets the 4th place also gets recognized at the region meet.

When Ash found out he couldplace if he came in 4th he set his mind to come in 4th place at this meet. I’ve never seen him run as fast as he did for that race. I hope he gets to run in the fastest heat at the region meet next week because he’s worked hard to get there.

I’m so proud of him for setting a goal and showing everyone at the meet that blind runners with amazing guides also belong in the race.

I can’t wait to see him run in the region meet. #blindkidscan #disabilityparenting #blindrunner

Video description: A teenage boy walks with his white cane by his mom, then he stands at the starting line with his guide. He runs as fast as possible and passes other runners on the track. The he crosses the finish line with his guide.

Nothing like watching your tiny dancer get their first winner scholarship.

Last weekend Ocean had a dance convention and got the highest possible scholarship a little dancer can get. For the last 3 years she’s always wanted to get the highest scholarship at conventions and she’s always gotten runner up scholarships but this time she really wanted to get a winner scholarship.

When she walked into the audition, I told her: “Walk into the audition like you already have the scholarship Ocean, look at the judges and show them you already have the winner scholarship.” And she told me that’s what she did.

She said: “Mom I didn’t mess up the audition choreography once and I looked right at all the judges with my facial expressions when my group was called each time.” “I got every single callback in the audition and was part of the last group dancing in front of the judges.”

There’s moments I won’t ever forget as a dance mom and when they called Ocean’s name on stage standing in a group of so many dancers, I cried because I know how hard she worked for 3 years in so many auditions in order to get that scholarship.

There were 177 minis in the convention room Ocean auditioned in. And out of 177 they picked only 7 girls who got a winner scholarship and my tiny dancer was one of them. #dancemom #danceislife #minidancer

There’s no reason to make dance moms feel bad for doing stage make up or spray tans for their tiny dancers.

Every dance season I get messages that say things like “Why would you let your daughter wear so much make up for dance?” “Why are you tanning her for her competition?” The truth is stage make up is part of being a dancer and it helps her facial expressions show more under the lights when she’s performing. And I don’t always tan her for competitions but when I do it’s because it’s her choice and she feels more confident not looking washed out on stage when she performs.

Both of these things are Ocean’s preference and the make up she also has to match the rest of her team too. If everyone else is tan and wearing the same make up they all look amazing on stage. I also believe that part of being a dance mom is supporting Ocean on every part of being a dancer.

I wish more people would understand this, she doesn’t wear make up everyday or get spray tans regularly either, she’s only ten and wearing stage make up at 4 or 5 comps every season isn’t affecting her childhood.

Actually being a dancer and being part of a team is teaching her so many lessons she wouldn’t be able to learn without dance. #danceislife #dancemom #tinydancer

Single moms always show up for their kids no matter what life throws at them.

Never thought I’d be a single mom but I’ve learned so much from raising my kids on my own the last 9 months. I’ve learned that I can be both mom and dad when my kids need me to be. I can protect, raise and love them all on my own. And I will always show up for them no matter what.

Today is a hard day because it’s my first Mother’s Day as a single mom but it’s also a beautiful reminder of how strong I am as a mother and the example I’m giving my kids with everything we’ve been through the last year.

I just want to spend time with my kids and think of how lucky I am that I get the chance to raise them. I’m the last person they see before they go to bed at night, and the first one they hug in the morning. I’m the first one Ocean looks for in the crowd when she’s performing on stage or getting a scholarship she worked so hard to get. And I’m the first one Ash smiles at when he hears me cheering for him during a race. I’m their world and I’m so happy I get to be that for them every single day. #singlemomlife #motherdaughter #mothersday❤️ #motherandson

Video description: lots of clips of a mother and her son and daughter living their best life together, running by the ocean, walking at track meets, dance competitions, dancing, doing make up, learning how to tie a tie, standing on their porch.

Dancers make the best models because they already have all the confidence.

Yesterday we were able to find an amazing photographer that did Ocean’s headshots for nationals. I didn’t know she needed headshots done until Monday this week and they were due today.

I was so grateful that @flairphotography.ut messaged me and was able to meet us for this shoot. Ocean loved being able to get her headshots done for dance nationals. She’ll be competing for Artist of the Year at nationals in July and we loved every single headshot she got from this shoot.

I’ve had the craziest busiest week as a single mom and I’m so grateful for this photographer that made this last minute shoot happen for my girl. Getting her headshots last night made my day and I’m glad we were able to turn them in on time. #tinydancer #dancemom #dancephotoshoot

Running means the world to a blind runner.

Yesterday I was driving home with Ash after we went to church and he told me how much he loves running with his guide. I wasn’t expecting to get teary eyed hearing my son say these words.

I also didn’t realize how much of a difference running makes in his life. It made me so happy to hear that because of running and his guide Ash knows that nothing can bring him down. He is so so much stronger than any challenge life has thrown his way. And I have so much to learn from him.

I used to run and pray while I was running too, I never realized my son also talks to Heavenly Father while he runs races. He has such a strong faith and testimony of Christ, I will always think of this when I see him running races with his guide.

Running has made a huge difference in his life, specially this last year that has been harder for our family. I’m so grateful he can run with his guide and inspire everyone who gets to see them. #blindkidscan #disabilityparenting #blindrunner

Video description: A teen boy runs with his guide at a track meet, he passes three runners as he’s running towards the finish line.

She doesn’t know life without having a blind big brother.

One of the most beautiful things about being a single mom is seeing how close my kids are to each other. Ocean looks up to Ash and she always has.

The fact that he’s blind doesn’t mean anything to her other than a characteristic of her big brother. She doesn’t see him in any other way than how amazing and caring he is with her.

I know most siblings of blind children just wish the rest of the world could see their siblings the same way they do. This song made me think of how long these two have had the most beautiful bond. Their sibling bond goes way back and I hope that never changes. #blindkidscan #siblinglove👫 #wegowayback

Video description: A teen boy and little sister walk through the temple grounds then a clip of the same kids much younger and doing things together like singing, running to the ocean, walking at cocoa beach pier, hiking mountains, and walking through an amusement park.

The movies are for everyone and being blind doesn’t mean you can’t watch a movie.

Last night I took Ashton with me to the VIP screening of The Devil Wears Prada 2 at @megaplextheatres and they made sure he had audio description headphones to watch the movie.

Ashton has been to many VIP screenings with me and this theatre always makes sure he has an audio description device and headphones that describe the movie scenes to him.

Ashton’s loved the movie and didn’t miss any parts of it because he had audio description. I actually had been waiting for this movie to come out since last summer, when Ocean and I were in New York for a fashion show and they were filming it.

This sequel was one of my favorite ones and I will definitely take Ocean to see it soon since she didn’t get to go with us this time. I’m so glad I was able to watch this movie with Ash last night.

I love our mother and son movie nights because the movies are for everyone and being blind doesn’t mean he will ever miss out on being able to watch a movie with me. #blindkidscan #disabilityparenting #motherandson #megaplextheatres

Video description: A mother and son walk into a movie theatre and they stand in front of “Devil Wears Prada 2” back drop. The son smiles and hugs his mom, he uses his white cane to walk into a theatre and then he sits with headphones smiling listening to the audio description.

Raising multicultural children is the best.

Someone asked me the other day what it was like raising half Peruvian half American kids and I loved being able to say it’s like having the magic of two cultures in one person.

My kids don’t have to choose one over the other because they can love being Peruvian just as much as they love being American.

We can sing and dance to music in Spanish and also sing and dance to music in English, and we can eat Peruvian food and also American food here. It really doesn’t matter as long as they know they will always belong in both cultures.

Raising half Peruvian and half American kids is my favorite. #motherdaughter #peruvian #multiculturalkids