Jess, tell us more about yourself and your family:
We are Jon and Jess Roberts, a family of four (soon to be five as we await the birth of our third child). We live on the beautiful North Coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Luke, our firstborn, was diagnosed prenatally with Down Syndrome, and this has quite literally changed the trajectory of our lives for the better. Our daughter Holly arrived 20 months after Luke, and continues to blow us away with her empathy, strength, and wisdom.
We are so excited to be welcoming another little girl to our family at the end of May and we cannot wait to see the relationship between our three children blossom and grow.
What are you most passionate about?
After our son’s Down Syndrome diagnosis 5 years ago, my passion has organically morphed into our son’s cause. As a family, we are passionate about showing the world the worth of people with Down Syndrome. We want to share the beauty of life with our son in it and hope to educate and create awareness and support of Down Syndrome.
What is your best time of day?
Without a doubt it is bath time. We have found that “sweet spot” after the kids’ bath time to focus on quality, one-on-one time with our children – be it reading books, practicing fine motor skills, or simply chatting about the day that has passed. This special family time has become a time to connect, to reflect on the day and to reset.
What makes you burst with joy?
Seeing my children grow and watching how their personalities and their relationships develop. It’s wonderful observing them become their own little people. It also brings me such joy seeing people’s perspective of and attitude to Down Syndrome changing. I also adore an immersive swim in the sea!
How long have you been a Pure Beginnings fan? Any favourite products?
We have used Pure Beginnings since Luke was born. I attended baby massage classes with him, and I am a firm believer that his daily massage sessions have contributed greatly to his strong muscle tone. We used the soothing baby wash and shampoo and the soothing baby massage and bath oil daily.
How do you embrace the Pure Beginnings lifestyle at home?
We are passionate about sustainable living and are consciously trying to leave as small an imprint on the environment as possible, to preserve it for our children and the generations to come.
My husband and his partner own an eco-friendly company which manufactures products made from recycled, recyclable and/or biodegradable materials. This is a company that we are both passionate about. Pure Beginnings and their ethos fit perfectly into our parenting narrative of being gentle to the earth and all who inhabit it.
Other than the wonderful work you do educating people about Down Syndrome with Learning from Luke and @downsideupsa, what else do you focus on work-wise?
My hubby and I both work full time. After studying a degree in journalism and psychology and then completing my LLB legal degree, I found myself working in the retail space, where I have been for the past 12 years. If I could start all over again, however, I would want to follow in my dad’s footsteps and study veterinary science.
Name three things you cannot live without:
Our support system, coffee, the ocean.
Tell us one thing most people don’t know about you:
I am a total news addict. I had a subscription to the Financial Mail and Sunday Times at varsity and I listen to global news podcasts daily.
What excites you most about this ambassadorship?
Firstly, the fact that Pure Beginnings, a company that we love and trust, are embracing diversity and celebrating differences by choosing us as ambassadors makes me immensely proud. We are hugely excited to be partnering with a brand that mirrors our own outlook, and we are so excited to try out the new and exciting products as our family grows.
SOCIAL:
Instagram and Facebook, @learningfromluke, www.learningfromluke.org
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The purpose of the Pure Beginnings blog is to educate and provide awareness of our products, ingredients and a more natural and healthier lifestyle. Although every effort is made to provide information that is true, factually correct and beneficial to our customers and followers, the content on the blog is not a substitute for professional medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis, treatment, dietary, or safety advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified experts with any questions you may have regarding a medical question, condition, or safety concern. Reliance on information presented on this blog is at your own risk.
