7.28.07: The Second Mother Daughter Tea

Piper Wickens still talks about the day she got to decorate cookies with A.J. Pujols. It was in August 2005 at the Pujols Family Foundation's First Mother Daughter Tea, and Piper was only 6 at the time.

So when Piper and her mom, Michele Wickens, received an invitation to attend the Second Mother Daughter Tea, held July 28 of this year, there was no way they were going to miss it - even though they live more than three hours away in Mountain Grove, MO, and had no car to get there.

"I had to borrow a girlfriends car and Piper and I took off, we were so excited," said Michele, who still has pictures from the first tea on her refrigerator. "We had a ball. … They had so much girly stuff for the girls to do and Piper just had a ball doing everything. Just being around other girls with Down syndrome and friends that she'd seen before, she loved all of it."

More than 250 mothers and their daughters with Down syndrome attended the second Mother Daughter Tea, which was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Clayton.

The tea offered the moms and daughters a chance to dress up and spend a few hours being treated like princesses. Each mother and daughter had their portrait taken by Gina Kelly of Lace Images. McAlister's Deli donated cookies for the girls to decorate, and the girls also had a chance to decorate hats, memory boxes and postcards. During the tea, Deidre Pujols gave an inspirational talk to the moms and lots of goodies were handed out throughout the event.

"There was just a real neat feeling to see people that we saw at the first tea again, to catch up and see how they were doing and how their kids had grown," said Jane Benson, whose daughter Hannah turns 6 in September. "It's a way for moms and kids with Down syndrome to get together that isn't focused on what we have to do -- the education, what we can do to make their lives better. It was purely for the enjoyment, and that's really, really special."

The E-mail

Amid the laughter and catching up among the girls and their moms, Deidre Pujols shared a part of her story of having a daughter with Down syndrome that many moms said was even more emotional than her talk at the first tea.

At this year's tea, Deidre read part of an email from a woman in California whose newborn had been diagnosed with Down syndrome. In the email, the woman spoke of her doubts and fears and of the desperation she felt.

"That letter was a huge moment for me. Huge," said Annette Ibata of Glen Carbon, Ill., whose daughter Audrey is 7. "I sat in my chair nodding as I listened to Deidre say that just living and getting the kids out there is the only way to help the world become more accepting of differences and disabilities. I often say to family and friends that sort of thing … It's baby steps. … It's one person at a time. … It's about living and not hiding even when it's not easy. Deidre mentioned 'the good, the bad and the ugly.' So true!"

"It was very touching and uplifting and inspiring," said Michele Wickens. "It was just so honest and open and Deidre never once judged this other person for not having as much faith maybe. She never once judged her for asking the questions we've all asked ourselves at one time or another."

The Bear

All throughout the event, door prizes donated by companies such as Décor Interiors, Peoples National Bank, Cookies By Design, The Face and The Body Spa, Panera Bread and the Inkspot of Natalie were handed out. And live music was provided by Sasha Martinson.

A video highlighting moments from the first tea was also shown, and many of the girls were delighted to see themselves on the big screen.

"When I first gave birth I feared Audrey's future because I didn't see many adults with Down syndrome … and then I started attending more social events and saw people with Down syndrome in action," said Annette Ibata. "I sat next to a table of high school girls, oh were they having a great time! I heard them giggle and chit chat with each other. It was just so confirming that life isn't so scary or different for these girls. … It's just really nice to talk to all the moms who have been there, done that and have confirmation that you are OK."

At the end of the tea, each family received ice cream from Cold Stone Creamery and a goodie bag that included items donated by Hardee's, the St. Louis Cardinals, Crown Candy Kitchen, Velvet Cream Popcorn, Integrity Music, Malia's Salon and Spa, Ylang-Ylang and more.

But many of the girls were most excited to receive a stuffed bear that had been provided by Build-A-Bear.

Piper, who couldn't help but run up and give Deidre a great big hug after she spoke, even named her bear "Deidre."
"She has slept with 'Deidre' every night. She will not go to bed without Deidre with her and I have to kiss 'Deidre' and kiss Piper and then she'll go to bed," said Michele Wickens.

Said Michele in her thank you to Deidre and the Pujols Family Foundation:

"Your Mother Daughter Tea is not just a time to spend with our daughters or get really cool stuff or meet and talk with the wife of a famous baseball star. It has become a time to see new friends and talk with experienced Moms, and a place where you can really feel the love of Christ hang in the air. And I can only know that I am not the only Mom that felt the same way in leaving that wonderful ballroom filled with the excitement and anticipation of next year."

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