I have been doing a lot of writing this week: the TV essay, yesterday's blog post, today's journaling. I also wrote a 3 page recount for Andrew of his preschool year and all the things that have unfolded so far. I added a few school pics, some preschool artwork and have decided to start a school scrapbook for him.
It helps me so much to get these events down in writing. There is something so settling for me about seeing the story as a whole. Good stuff, my friends, good stuff.
Though it is making for mighty long blog posts. Sorry about that!
Here's today's story:
In early January, as Andrew was starting at his new school, I took you to the pediatrician for your 18 month check up. The doctor asked me about your language and I tried to avoid the question. I told him how much you understood. You understood lots and lots of language. You could show us where your body parts are, you can run and get things when we ask for them, you just know so much!
But how many words do you say? Zero. None. Not one word. For a week last fall you said the word “ball” but we hadn’t heard it in months.
He recommended we get a Speech Evaluation.
Isaac, I couldn’t do it. I had just gone through the long and emotional process of sorting through your brother’s evaluations. I wasn’t ready to go through all of that again with you. I explained that to him and he told me what to look for to see how urgent an evaluation was. Were you frustrated? Were you angry about not being understood? If I started seeing those signs, I needed to call in for an evaluation quickly.
I couldn’t help but wonder what I was doing wrong. Why do my kids need so much support? Why does language grow so slowly around here? Yes, it’s true that Dad and I are more do-ers than talk-ers… but is that stunting your growth?
Then slowly things began to shift. Andrew starting school at 9 meant that you and I had a few hours to ourselves every morning. And your language began to grow. Within three weeks you had about 20 words. It’s funny because I didn’t think you would struggle with language. I thought that you would hear Andrew and I talking and pick it right up. But, instead you needed some space, you needed a little quiet to get your words in. And now you have all kinds of things to say.
And hearing them is such a relief.
7 comments:
What a great post!
Jake didn't say much before he was 2... since then, he can't stop... careful for what you wish for they say...
My eldest son didn't talk until he was two years old because his big sister (two years older than him) did all the talking. He would point at something and look at me. I was beginning to really worry as we arrived at his second birthday. My mother had prepared a celebratory tea (British you see) and she asked him what he would like to eat and waited for him to point. He said "I'll have a tomato sandwich please granny"
I was stunned but Mum just said "do you want lettuce in that?"
From that day on he talked. He just needed his own day to do it.
Hey Robin, if it makes you feel any better, both our boys were super late talkers. Like, LATE. Brice didn't have much going on until 30 months. Harry is getting evaluated next month. He understands things (we think), but can't say much. Oh well. Maybe it's a sign of pending brilliance...good luck!! :)
Well, I for one love your stories so keep writing and posting them!
I am 13 months older than my sister and my mom says that my sis didn't start talking until much later because she had me to communicate for her - "sissy wants water" or "sissy is tired." I'm so glad you've had time like this with Isaac. He is blossoming, for sure. :o)
I'm enjoying all your posts this week as well. I like the little trees to go with the story of Isaac (and mama?) blossoming. (The tree bark looks like leather!)
Today my little confused (because we're in a bilingual home) and probably language delayed Jesse said "Sorry, Mama" after I yelled "Ouch!" when he bit my bottom (!). What?!?!
Seriously, they seem to go from 0 to 60 in a heartbeat.
You certainly had a challenging time in the last quarter of 2009. It's so good that you are documenting this part of your boys growing up as you will all look back in the future and see how far you have all come.
I think a lot of 2nd babies are slower talking as they have a noisy big brother/sister to do the talking for them. Pointing is just so much easier when you want something! Obviously once Andrew was taken out of the equation and Isaac was home alone, he had to find his own voice!
My younger son still has some speech issues that we think are partially driven by having an older brother to translate for him & our becoming accustomed to his speech patterns & failing to intervene & correct often enough
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