Tuesday Treat

This isn't the best pic of your favourite blogger; I look like I could use a few more hours of sleep.  I still feel like I'm missing a few hours, especially as the allergies have really been affecting my functioning level and sleep this week.  I like this photo of Lydia, not just because the perspective has given her clown-sized hands, but because she's very huggable and cute. 

Lydia's speech therapy is going well.  For the first few weeks, I didn't see much change as she was getting used to a new person playing with her.  Over the last couple of weeks, Lydia's really started to imitate a lot more, as well as use words without our initiation.  Her newest words include GO!, Geeee (for Gary, as I'm always calling his name) and Tico (for Tico in her Dora book).  She even points at a photo of Grandpa Donnelly and says, 'Bamba...Bappa...Gwampa..'  She hasn't been able to say it yet, but when we say, 'Yee Ma' she walks up to the photo of Annie and points!

Worrying about child development often seems much ado about nothing to outsiders. I promise you that it's less worry these days for us, and more about giving Lydia the best start possible. I've had people express concern that we're hindering natural development with intervention.  I agree that incessant worrying can be overly protective or cautious, which can get in the way of a child learning and growing. What I want people to know is that prematurity has the potential to have lingering, if not long-lasting and life-altering effects.  Do I think Lydia has escaped the possible negative effects? I'm fairly hopeful and confident that she has, but we don't know for sure. 

It's hard to listen to people comparing other children to Lydia; it's like comparing apples and oranges.  People compare to reassure us that it's normal, that children develop at different paces, that everything will turn out okay. I just don't think people realise how unhelpful their attempt to be helpful can be.  Unless you're my immediate family, false reassurance does nothing for me.  It irritates me.  Intellectually I understand that development is not measured on a 'one-size-fits-all' stick.  The irritation I experience happens when people then expect me to peg Lydia on the 'All kids develop at different rates and that's normal and they all turn out to have no problems and absolutely normal' stick.  Hello? 

Lydia.  She is the reason I seriously consider having another child.  Lydia.  The reason I hesitate and have seriously considered not having another child.  Lydia.  We love her and, luckily, she still loves us.