Susan Senator
All happy families are not alike...
All happy families are not alike...
Listen
We are here, we are here, we are here!
…A person’s a person, no matter how smallish.
Dr. Seuss, Horton Hears a Who
Ned and I managed to sneak out to dinner last night. We gave Nat his pills a little early to make sure he would be at his calmest, (per our doctor’s advice) and we talked to him about our plans all through dinner. We must have repeated the following conversation 20-30 times:
Nat: “Mommy and Daddy going out to dinner, come back at bedtime.”
Me: “That’s right, Nat, Mommy and Daddy are going out to dinner and we will be back by your bedtime.”
Nat: “Mommy and Daddy going out.”
Me: “Yes, Honey.”
Over and over. Finally I got so tired of this, and so annoyed, because it just didn’t seem to be sinking in or making him any calmer. In frustration, I flipped open my laptop and tried to block him out for a moment.
Nat suddenly said, “Listen.”
I looked up. He was staring right at me, those periwinkle blue eyes wide open.
He said it again. “Listen.”
My face was turning red, my heart, burning. “Yes, Nat, I’m listening.”
“Mommy and Daddy going out to dinner, come back at bedtime.”
“That’s right, Darling.”
He was fine last night.
Lest any of us forget, these children of ours who can’t always speak: they are here. 100%
4 comments
E-mail Susan
On Facebook
@susansenator
sue,
nat sounds a lot like my friend emily’s son DJ. i met him last week when they were here for the book event for “reasonable people.” he’s non-speaking but uses the labeler and computer. learning to read and seeing what’s said in print seems to be the crucial link for his auditory processing. it was remarkable to watch him communicate through type. when asked by someone in the audience what has made the most difference in his life, i expected him to say “my mom” but he slowly typed the word “respect”. he also did lots of flapping around the house during our day together:) and especially liked our foamy hand soap.
i am glad you got a dinner out. best wishes for your
trip – karin
Joey does this- perseverates on somethign we are telling him or explaining to him, until it kind of clicks, and the words mean something to him. It can get really annoying to answer the same question or respond to the same comment over and over again… in fact, it can drive us batty… but it seems to be his way of processing.
I hope it was an excellent dinner. 🙂
Hallelujah! (Ok, and I am envious about dinner out, too! 😉 )
Your point about “they are here” is so dead on! I have ALWAYS said that about Nik even when others wanted to treat him like he’s stupid. Of course, Niksdad likes to say that those who are ready to learn from Nik will; those that aren’t will suffer (and Nik can be merciless in his 3 yr old way!).
YAY! i’m so glad you two went out and had fun and all was well. that is wonderful!