Jake is almost 2 years old and pretty much has no words. He says “amen”, pronounced with lots of umph as “Ahhh-MEN!” And he kind of says “cheese”, but it’s sort of pronounced as “eese” with a teeth-clenched, saliva-in-his-mouth, kind of sound. Those are his only two vocal words. He can sign many words: more, momma, daddy, ball, eat, drink, play, bath, milk, bottle, all-done, and a few more that he’s familiar with, but not good at it. He also has his own made-up sign that he uses when he wants someone to play Mario Kart (he loves Mario Kart), and a few other things, like he shakes his finger when he’s doing something naughty (mimicking me saying “No” to him). The signing has helped a lot, but we still really struggle to communicate. It is frustrating for me, but so much more for him. He wants to say so much and express himself, but can’t. He gets really angry sometimes and throws quite the tantrums. He slaps himself in the face and bashes his head into things likes the floor, doors, walls, chairs—basically anything that will hurt. I really wish he wouldn’t do this, but obviously, the boy is really frustrated. We’ve submitted his info and needs to the Regional Center and they will be evaluating him sometime soon.
But in the meantime, he and I have built quite a special relationship. We don’t have many words, but we communicate in so many other ways. When he wants to be held and rocked, he grabs my hand and walks me over to the recliner, where he pats it with his other hand. He especially likes to be held while he’s drinking his bottle. He sits on the right side of my lap, holds his bottle with his right hand, and with his left, holds my hair. He has long had a fascination with my hair. I think it’s his lovey. He finds great comfort and happiness in my hair. He is happy with Daddy or his sisters, but if I walk in the room, it’s like nobody else matters. Sometimes it’s difficult because I feel like I can’t get much done with him hanging on me at all times, (sometimes I’m like a stealthy ninja ducking and diving around the house as I tidy and clean so that Jake can’t find me) but then I remember that someday he’ll learn to talk, someday he’ll talk back, someday he won’t be my little boy anymore, and someday he’ll want to spend his time fixing cars with his dad and I won’t be so special anymore. So I leave the laundry and dishes to be taken care of after he’s in bed, and we sit together reading books, singing songs, playing with toys, or watching something exciting like Wonder Pets—while he holds my hair, of course.
I love my sweet little boy and I can’t wait till we can talk together someday. Samantha also struggled with speech, but not as much as Jake does. I remember being overcome with emotion the first time she and I were able to have a conversation—one where I really, accurately understood her. It will probably be a long way off, but I’m excited for the day that he and I have that first truly vocal conversation. In the meantime, he’s super cute when we pray together as a family—“Ahhh-MEN!”
But in the meantime, he and I have built quite a special relationship. We don’t have many words, but we communicate in so many other ways. When he wants to be held and rocked, he grabs my hand and walks me over to the recliner, where he pats it with his other hand. He especially likes to be held while he’s drinking his bottle. He sits on the right side of my lap, holds his bottle with his right hand, and with his left, holds my hair. He has long had a fascination with my hair. I think it’s his lovey. He finds great comfort and happiness in my hair. He is happy with Daddy or his sisters, but if I walk in the room, it’s like nobody else matters. Sometimes it’s difficult because I feel like I can’t get much done with him hanging on me at all times, (sometimes I’m like a stealthy ninja ducking and diving around the house as I tidy and clean so that Jake can’t find me) but then I remember that someday he’ll learn to talk, someday he’ll talk back, someday he won’t be my little boy anymore, and someday he’ll want to spend his time fixing cars with his dad and I won’t be so special anymore. So I leave the laundry and dishes to be taken care of after he’s in bed, and we sit together reading books, singing songs, playing with toys, or watching something exciting like Wonder Pets—while he holds my hair, of course.
I love my sweet little boy and I can’t wait till we can talk together someday. Samantha also struggled with speech, but not as much as Jake does. I remember being overcome with emotion the first time she and I were able to have a conversation—one where I really, accurately understood her. It will probably be a long way off, but I’m excited for the day that he and I have that first truly vocal conversation. In the meantime, he’s super cute when we pray together as a family—“Ahhh-MEN!”
