Parenting Insights
I stand in the grocery aisle, balancing my 3-year-old and my infant while we gather ingredients for her favorite treat—a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. As I explain our choices, my daughter responds with a delightful jumble of sounds, excitedly declaring her desire for “pink” jam, which she means strawberry. But beneath this joyful moment lies a weighty concern: my daughter has an expressive speech delay.
She may not yet say, “I love you, Mommy,” but she expresses her affection in other sweet ways—by cupping my cheeks and drawing me into her gaze, saying, “Hi, my Mommy. Hi.” Then, she’ll wrap her arms around me, creating a moment of pure connection. Yet, when I overhear a stranger’s comment in the store, “That girl can’t talk,” it ignites a surge of irrational emotions within me.
In that instant, I wish I could chase after that little boy and explain everything about my daughter’s journey. Since she started speech therapy at age two, she has made remarkable progress. We have explored every avenue, including hearing tests, and pondered whether her speech delay stemmed from being born with the cord wrapped around her neck. Still, I wrestle with doubts. Is it something I did—or didn’t do? Should I have sent her to daycare? Did I read to her enough? Was I too attached? And what about that binky? Was it a mistake to let her use it until she was three, even if only at bedtime?
If you’re a parent of a child with a speech or developmental delay, you likely resonate with this turmoil. The endless questions swirl in your mind. You yearn for answers. You want to know why this is happening and how you could have influenced it differently. As my mother-in-law reminds me, the blame often falls squarely on mothers. Whether it’s a child’s misbehavior, picky eating, or delayed development, somehow it’s attributed to us.
But let me be clear: it’s not your fault. It’s certainly not mine either. I understand my daughter in ways that sometimes feel unique to me. She is doing her best to communicate, and I am often her bridge to the world. I want to share with that little boy and his mother that since enrolling in preschool with a supportive speech pathologist, she’s made incredible strides. She is now able to express herself more clearly, string together words, and engage with others beyond her close circle.
Just this year, she went trick-or-treating and confidently exclaimed “tick-teat” and “tank you”—milestones that many kids achieve much earlier. Now, as Christmas approaches, she’s excitedly talking about Santa Claus, saying, “Ho. Ho. Ho! Uppy, Mommy.” There’s an entire world of words waiting to spill out; she’s simply not there yet.
The little boy has long since wandered away, but his comment lingers in my thoughts. My sweet girl, once again quiet, looks up at me expectantly. I smile and say, “What a silly boy. Of course, you can talk! We were just discussing ‘yummies’ with green jam.” With a giggle, she corrects me, insisting, “No, Mommy! Pink!”
In time, I hope that I will cherish the moments when she never stops talking and I long for a moment of quiet. I hope I’ll reminisce about the days when we deciphered her words together and celebrated her unique expressions of love—like those delightful “yummies with pink.”
For more insights on parenting and navigating challenges, consider checking out this informative piece on intrauterine insemination, which can be a helpful resource in your journey. If you’re exploring home insemination options, Cryobaby offers reliable kits that can assist you. And for more reflections on parenting challenges, visit this blog.
In summary, raising a child with a speech delay can be a complex journey filled with self-doubt and concern. Yet, it’s essential to recognize and celebrate the progress they make, understanding that every child develops at their own pace.
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