Newest addition is cute, although he didn’t seem to be in a mood for cuddles today – never mind, an excuse to go back! (Like we *need* an excuse, :grin:) And as ever, a lovely time had by adults, chatting, and children, playing. Didn’t see Big dressed up in school uniform, but I think Jonathan got piccies 🙂
And then we went on to see a favourite aunt, and that was good too. Small especially enjoyed time in the playloft, with lots and lots and lots of cars. Bit of a tantrum when I took him down for tea in fact.
Then home. And both children in instant meltdown. 🙁 Tough evening, was gone 9 when Small finally passed out (and I took him upstairs at eight) while Big threw mega strop on being told it was bathtime and was asleep, coughing, seconds after story time was over. I’m hoping that she was just overtired (she was up *ludicrously* early this morning, and then seeing two of her favourite sets of ppl was exciting) and that we haven’t imported lurgy into a house with a new baby.
Tim and I have spent time discussing more topics we want to approach with Big, but I’m going to keep them under my hat a little, will blog as we go along, as it’s all going to be a bit experimental. We’ve also spent more time discussing the communication issue with Small.
It is beginning to bother me that he won’t talk to us. I’ve started trying to introduce more signs, and tonight he hit himself in the face trying to sign drink, which I didn’t think was a positive achievement 🙁 I’m really not sure where I’m going with this. Standback for a braindump – comments not particularly required, and please, no cliches about different children developing differently? Humour me here, I’m just using this space to explore my own feelings, and sharing it so that you know I have them.
He has a range of sounds, he has times when it sounds like he is talking in slightly distorted sentences, and that it’s just that you aren’t listening hard enough, and then there are other times when I think, whoa, he only has three words, and even they aren’t all that clear. (“‘ello”, “mammy” ???!, and “noooooooo”) I don’t want to get stressed about this as I know that will make what is a difficult situation worse (and it *is* difficult when you have a child in the kitchen who really wants something but is just pointing and grunting rather than offering any kind of specific indication. That happens several times a day here, and it’s beginning to wear me down.) but I also don’t want to miss something that I should be helping him with more. But I don’t know *how* to help him more. I talk to him. I read to him. I sing and sign to him (having typed those interchangeably!) We have music on, tv on, times with neither (probably not enough time with neither actually, but the screaming makes it difficult to do anything else 🙁 ). I’ve asked Big not to talk for him and I’m running out of ideas on what to do next. And I *know* children develop at different stages, and I *know* that I do a good neurotic, but trust me here, this is a very coordinated and capable child with a good level of comprehension who just doesn’t seem to *get* talking or signing, so I’m beginning to think I’d be justified in getting an outside opinion. They don’t do standard developmental checks here – I think you just get a letter every once in a blue moon saying you should see them if you have a concern, and I didn’t have the last time I had a letter. But I think I do now.
Brain dumped, off to excavate the kitchen in the hope that Big isn’t ill and we can still have a Small celebration tomorrow.
Comments
16 responses to “Lovely day out”
{{{{{hugs}}}}}
Fingers crossed for good weather for you.
*shaking our leper bells in S Yorks*
😉
(((Jax)))
Hope you really enjoy weekend birthday celebrations and can put concerns aside until after those.
Since hesfes Abbie has been doing a Small-style humph whenever I ask her anything, so she clearly considers his methods of communication to be adequate (and keeps saying how cute she thought he was when he talked to her) – but I can understand why you feel as you do.
Will be interested to see what you’ve got up your sleeve for Big 🙂
I (for once ;-)) don’t think you are being neurotic, I’d say if I did. I
Oh well… when he eventually does, you’ll be delighted for a week and then wish he’d shut up for a bit 😉
Neither Fran or Maddy were doing much intelligible talking before 3 1/2; i don’t think i beat myself up over Fran, i did worry about Maddy – but it all came out in the wash. An excellent area of masterful inactivity/benign neglect, i find. But its always easy to say that in hindsight. I wish you lot had known Maddy when she could find a whole wealth of meaning in “I DON’T WANT ANYTHING!!!!!” It was her only sentence for gawd knows how long. (Have i managed to avoid saying “relax, they all develop differently” or not, i can’t tell ;))
Amelie used to be intelligible and now just squeals at me – i find that MUCH more disturbing!
Yep, I’d get the second outside opinion too. I’ve known of late talkers before and I do think that by being able to communicate via alternative methods (signing, non verbal noises, older sibling, parent dancing around offering all sorts of alternatives until they reach the right one, being very good at anticipating child’s needs so they don’t actually need to articulate them) *some* children do simply talk late as they don’t see any need to do so any earlier.
From the brief time I’ve spent with Small I would not have seen anything else which would cause alarm bells to ring but I was asking the advice of every parent and medical professional I met when Davies walked late and again when he mis-pronounced certain words for a long while both to reassure me he was within the ‘normal spectrum’ and to ensure that if there was an issue then we identified it and began dealing with it appropriately as possible.
Of course if you get input make sure it isn’t via the NHS…..;-)
Sorry to hear Small has infected Abbie. Can’t think what to say to apologise apart from, well, humph. 🙂
((hugs)) Hun! Do whatever feels right for you. Be neurotic if it helps, get an outside opinion if it helps. I pop to the GP on a regular basis deliberatetly to be told – “S/He’s fine. Nothing to worry about.” On the odd occasion there HAS been a concern it has been dealt with swiftly and reasonably efficiently.
Hello. Happy birthday to Small. I do a fantastic neurotic and sympathise entirely about your worry. Never met you all IRL and so can offer nothing useful but am hoping you’re having a happy day.
Get an outside opinion Jax, even if only to put your mind at rest.
Happy Birthday Small, welcome to being 2 🙂
2 today? I assumed tomorrow..
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SMALL!!!
Small is 2?! Sorry, had no idea how old he was. Josh didn’t really say much for a long time. His gran (who apparently used to work with children) thought there was something wrong with him. The cow that I am firmly resolved to prove her wrong and not get paranoid. Turns out he was fine. He did have 2 older sisters who (still) don’t really let him get a word in edge ways ;-).
Anyway, hope you have a nice day tomorrow.
And another Happy Birthday to you, Small 🙂 Hope you and the rest of your family have had a lovely day 🙂
Happy Birthday Small! Don’t know you but know of you, and wish you all the best. 2 is a very important birthday, you are now officially entitled to become ‘terrible’ so make full use of that.
Hugs to Jax, sometimes we all need a bit of a professional opinion, I wish you luck with it.
Jax, have you thought of some PECS style picture cards? Like signing they aren’t thought to slow speech down but are a good aid to communication. Am on the way out but there is a good site about somewhere that you can print your own from. You could even make your own by taking pictures of stuff like biscuits, juice, sandwich etc and laminating them so when he wants something he can bring you the relevent picture. When T was younger he did this all on his own, he used to bring us his “Tommy the tipper truck” book and point to the driver eating a sandwich when he wanted lunch! Round this way the speech therapists have drop in clinics once a month where they will just observe the child and say whether they think any further assessment is needed. Perhaps you could find if something similar happens there? Good luck!