This week, Little People, Big World viewers saw Tori and Zach learn that Lilah will be a little person. It was an emotional, important moment.
In a new interview, the proud parents of two are explaining why Jackson and Lilah will thrive without being defined by their shared disability.
Zach and Tori spoke to People this week about what it means to be the parents of two young little people.
"It’s obviously a part of them," Zach affirms.
"But," he emphasizes, "we don’t want dwarfism to define our children."
Jackson and Lilah will grow up to be well-rounded, three-dimensional human beings, just like their father and grandparents.
Achondroplasia has a 50/50 chance of being passed to children when one parent has it.
"That wasn’t a concern to us,” Zach explains.
“Sure, there was a chance our kids could have dwarfism," he acknowledges.
"And there was also a chance that none of our kids would have dwarfism," Zach points out.
"Whatever we got is what we were going to love and roll with," Zach affirms.
He does, however, note one key difference that both of their children being little people may bring.
Zach opines: "I think it will bring them closer than your typical brother-sister relationship."
And it won't just be because they will both grow up to be shorter than the average adult.
"Jackson will be setting the precedent at school,” Zach predicts.
“He’ll be punching through those barriers," he says, referring to accommodations and administration attitudes.
"When it’s time for Lilah to start going," Zach continues, "the school will already have an awareness of what the needs are."
He states: "He’ll be blazing that trail for her."
"You do have to just push [Jackson] a little bit more," Zach says with regard to the difference in raising kids who share his disability.
"When he’s running with the other kids," he explains, "he’s a little slower than the rest."
Zach explains how he offers encouragement: "I just say, ‘Keep going, dude.’"
That sounds very healthy.
"The height difference is just going to get bigger as he gets older," Zach states from experience, "and the other kids are going to get faster."
"But I try to not baby him," he says.
Zach shares: "I want to build that resilience and mental toughness in him early so he’s able to overcome later challenges."
He says that this will be important "especially when he’s at school and doesn’t have Mom and Dad around."
"It’s just given me such purpose,” Tori says of helping to prepare her children for the rest of their lives.
“I pray that my kids grow up to be good people," she says.
Most parents hope for this. The ones who don't have this prioritiy are the ones to watch out for.
"If I do that," Tori expresses, "then my job on earth is done."
This week, Little People Big World viewers watched as Tori and Zach sat down with the doctor.
Following the ultrasound, they learned that Lilah's limbs were a couple of weeks behind in development.
That, the doctor acknowledged, put her right on track for achondroplasia.
That is the kind of dwarfism that Zach, Jackson, and Amy have.
After the fact, Tori went onto Instagram to detail her reaction to the news.
"I remember that morning so clearly." Tori revealed on Instagram.
"I was on social media and found out that a friend of mine who was a month further along than I was at the time, was having issues with her pregnancy," she shared.
"That day she found out that she may never get to meet her baby," Tori grimly recalled.
"I remember being so absolutely heartbroken for her and her family," she expressed.
"So," Tori continued, "when I went to our doctor appointment and found out Lilah has dwarfism I remember feeling guilty for being worried."
"Because at least my daughter was healthy," Tori wrote.
"At least I would get to hold her," she affirmed. "I would get to meet her."
"Feel what you’re feeling and never feel guilty for it -- that’s what I’ve learned," Tori advised.
"I know my Lilah Ray is going to be just fine," she stated. "She’s just the way she’s meant to be."
Tori's sister-in-law, Audrey Roloff, commented under Tori's heartfelt post.
"I can so relate to these feelings," Audrey wrote.
Her comment continued: "[heart emoji] this, Tori."
That was a sweet show of support from Auj.
