I sat quietly in a plastic chair across the room, watching my son as he worked with his speech therapist, whom we affectionately call The Articulation Ace. Between them was a round table, and it was his first session to address his lateral lisp. The therapist pulled out a card that resembled a bingo board, dotted with circular indentations and pictures of vibrant snakes. Beside it lay a colorful pile of chips. I observed intently, curious about how the session would unfold.
“Can you say ‘ta’ for me? Like this: ‘Ta, ta,’” she prompted.
“Ta, ta,” my little guy echoed, doing his best.
The game was straightforward: say the sounds, earn a chip, and cover the board. Simple, right? Not quite. The challenge wasn’t in producing the sounds or focusing on the task—thankfully, he was on point there. No, the real hurdle lay in the game itself.
When he earned his first chip, he asked where it should go. The therapist replied he could place it anywhere he liked. Confusion clouded his face as he asked again, and the same answer followed. Finally, after some back-and-forth, he decided on a spot. His tiny fingers placed the chip carefully, and it wasn’t random; he matched the chip’s color to the corresponding snake. If there wasn’t a matching snake, he asked again, needing guidance. Each chip had to fit a specific pattern in his mind, leading me to a startling realization—my son has a strong need for order.
This moment highlighted something I had noticed before but brushed off: he craves structure, even in what should be a playful setting. A few weeks later, while driving home from vacation, we stopped at a gas station. A row of ceramic bells caught his eye, and soon the tinkling filled the air. As I tried to drag him away, he whined, insisting on organizing the blue bells into a perfect row.
I shouldn’t have been surprised; I, too, thrive on structure and order. When plans go awry or spontaneity takes over, I can feel the anxiety creeping in. I’ve been this way for years, but seeing my son mirror this behavior stirs a worry in me. Have my tendencies shaped him? Is this need for structure something he inherited, or is it a product of our environment?
For the past three years, our schedule has been regimented, with mornings starting by 7:30 a.m. on weekdays and weekends alike. He spends long hours away from me, his days filled with structured activities at daycare. By pursuing my career, I’ve unintentionally exposed him to adult monotony, where everything is neatly timed and planned.
What if I were a stay-at-home mom? Would he be different? I may never know, but I do realize the importance of injecting spontaneity into our lives. My son has inadvertently taught me that we all need a break from our routines. Maybe we can enjoy ice cream before dinner someday or take an unexpected drive to admire Christmas lights.
He isn’t as structured as I am—yet. I have a chance to instill a love for spontaneity and delightful chaos in him. Perhaps I’ll learn to appreciate it too. One thing is sure: I will never again let a vacation day go to waste. We need those breaks, and they’re worth far more than just a few hours of pay. Thanks to my little one and The Articulation Ace, I’m learning the value of embracing spontaneity.
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Summary:
The article reflects on the necessity of introducing spontaneity into the structured lives of children and parents alike. Through personal anecdotes, the author emphasizes the importance of breaking from routine to foster creativity and joy, ensuring that children grow up with a love for playful chaos.