delayedtoddler

No, not a diagnosis–yet, but good news nonetheless.  B has really been gaining ground in her speech!  We did our video session for the More Than Words programme with the SLP on Tuesday.  The SLP was blown away by her progress.  B was using two word sentences and she was initiating the conversation.  She’d show us items and say “Look, Mama!” or “Look, M__!”.  This is called joint attention because the parent and child are focussed on the same thing.   It was great!

I’ve been blown away by her speech lately too.  The other day, my husband wanted B to come change her pants because the pants he put on her were too big.  B looked at him, shook her head “no” and then said, “No, Daddy, I OK!”  I know that’s nothing huge, but for her, it is!  My jaw nearly hit the floor when she said that.  I looked at my husband and said, “Did you hear that?  Did you hear what she said??”

During our session, the SLP told me that she really noticed a positive difference in B and in my skills in helping her.  I cannot recommend the More Than Words programme enough.  It is really great and if you have the chance to take it, go for it!  The skills are such that you don’t really feel like you’re doing much differently until you see the change in your child.  This alone has made a huge difference in not only B’s speech and communication, but also has helped to lessen the number of meltdowns because I now know what she requires to help her learn.

I know I’ve talked before about having a support system, but it’s really hit home for me this week.  My last couple of blogs were kind of down, and I know that.  What helped me this week was going out to my More Than Words class.  I touched base with some other parents who are also awaiting diagnosis for their children and I got to see (again) that I am not alone.  There are lots of children with special needs and lots of other parents face the same issues I do every day.  Probably the best thing about this particular class is that my husband was able to come with me.  It’s the first time he could come and it was helpful because he got to see what I experience every week and how the program works.  I think he enjoyed it, and I know I did.  It works so much better when we can be a team in our approach to B’s needs.

When this course is over next month, I am going to have to try to find a parenting group closer to home so I can have a place to talk to other parents and get their ideas and just be somewhere where I can be understood.  It’s sure a big help to me.