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Over the course of the last month or so I’ve realized that Ari should — perhaps — be more verbal than he is. He (barely) says “Dada” and “Mamaaaaaaah” (emphasis on the last syllable because he only says my ‘name’ when he really, REALLY wants something). He says “hot” and “up,” even though it sounds more like “ut!”
But this kid understands EVERYTHING. Nothing gets past him — in an almost aggravating way.
He may not be verbal, but he can communicate! He points, he reaches, he makes sounds… just very few real words.
It’s only recently that people started to point it out to us. And then I started to see videos of friends with kids around the same age — talking. Even counting!!
Deep down I know that I shouldn’t be comparing one kid to another. I know that Ari is healthy and happy; I know that he communicates in his own way; and I know that he is right where he should be.
But the “developmental milestones” timeline can be daunting on a parent. If your kid does or doesn’t hit a milestone by a certain age, it may, as a parent, make you worry. Or it may make others worry on your behalf.
It’s a good thing that I just keep reminding myself that we are right where we need to be! <3 That’s what I have to keep focusing on. He’s happy, he’s healthy, and he’s a smart kid (sometimes even a smartass!) 🙂
Have you ever had this situation your little one?
Rachel, this was me exactly a year ago. Jackson barely cobbled together momma or dada (his first word was actually “no”) and I had to hear from SO MANY people how he should be conjugating verbs in Spanish by now, or how their kid could read an encyclopedia by 10 months. WHATEVER. He was behind. I’m not saying he wasn’t and I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. It doesn’t make you a failure of a mom, or him a failure of a kid.
Because we heard SO MUCH about it, we did have his hearing tested just to make sure – and he passed with flying colors as I knew he would. And like you, I knew he understood, he just wasn’t verbalizing it yet. The only thing I can tell you is from my own experience and that is Jackson is now 27 months old and WON’T STOP TALKING. He says a lot of nonsense and gibberish but he talks nonstop. It took him awhile, but he got it, and I am sure Ari will too.
Sorry for the rambling comment, just wanted to share since I could’ve written your post a year ago!
Ann