tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3016568225160293031.post295943386612907332..comments2023-10-19T09:17:37.999-04:00Comments on Days with Dylan: What I AmLauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00128989346808056402noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3016568225160293031.post-83963393773899991582011-02-01T15:59:34.834-05:002011-02-01T15:59:34.834-05:00Great post - I hate it when things are hard for my...Great post - I hate it when things are hard for my twins and they get frustrated - now they are 6 I generally just acknowledge it - Hannah started saying 'it too hard' - and if I think it is I simply agree with her - at other times when I think with a push and a little help she could do it - I say 'no Hannah, it's not too hard. It's tricky' - and really celebrate when she gets it done.<br />In her own time - I think she can do anything! lol.<br />PS Dylan sure is a cutiepie - such a sweet face!Shelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15306619273869164248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3016568225160293031.post-8326202334173818672011-01-26T16:44:57.948-05:002011-01-26T16:44:57.948-05:00I to was frustrated by Sam not walking when everyo...I to was frustrated by Sam not walking when everyone else was around him that has Down syndrome. It will come though I promise. He is now running or walking really fast everywhere, can't keep track of him. Be patient and it will come.Taushahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13711847444052463207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3016568225160293031.post-63040633690678562322011-01-24T13:17:36.518-05:002011-01-24T13:17:36.518-05:00Laurie, this post hurt me. Or rather, what Dyan&#...Laurie, this post hurt me. Or rather, what Dyan's therapist said. I know I'm a non-conformist when it comes to therapy and early intervention, but I am so not on board with this whole notion of getting them to reach milestones "as soon as possible." It's so arbitrary. Dylan will walk when Dylan is ready to walk - not a moment sooner, and not a moment later. And I just don't believe for a second that kids - Ds or not - can be "made" or even "taught" to reach milestones. I know my viewpoint is not popular, and likely pisses certain people off, but I believe this with all my heart. A whole industry has been developed around early intervention, and in so many cases it's a one-size fits all proposition. How can a new therapist come in and decide that Dylan should already be walking? That just makes me so mad. And look how it makes you, the parent, feel. Finn's PT was bound and determined to get him walking "as soon as possible," and it was torture. And it didn't work. He walked when he was ready to walk, period. We've quit all therapy at this point, and I have no regrets whatsoever. Finn is making gains by leaps and bounds - because he's ready to, period. There are lots of things he's not doing yet, and I don't believe at all that any therapist could make it happen any sooner. He will do all things when he is ready to, just like any other kid.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07604477175816651214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3016568225160293031.post-11811708033017946662011-01-24T08:41:26.820-05:002011-01-24T08:41:26.820-05:00Oh i feel your pain! We do all get frustrated at ...Oh i feel your pain! We do all get frustrated at times and I never really thought about in those terms. Either way though my back sure is frustrated that Lindsey isn't walking. :) We are in the process of having her work on walking with a gait trainer. Lindsey is only frustrated about the feeding thing if WE aren't doing the feeding. She has no interest in taking over unless it involves puffs.<br />Great post. Way to put things in perspective.Kellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04962673866936134398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3016568225160293031.post-47289620654135391422011-01-23T20:44:05.230-05:002011-01-23T20:44:05.230-05:00I don't like your therapists. LOL. Dylan will ...I don't like your therapists. LOL. Dylan will walk. Dylan will self feed. Have you tried taking a step backwards with that and using one of those dipper utensil things, where the child only has to dip and bring to his mouth? Might help a little, not sure?<br /><br />I worry about empowering my kids too, and we have been dealing with this with Mason ... making sure he feels confident enough in himself and his place in our family. :( It is so hard, but so natural, I think? LOL. <br /><br />Making my task tonight to work on your blog!!! IM me if you are on yahoo. :)Bethanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09481397897364739480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3016568225160293031.post-41933149011215299322011-01-23T14:53:33.343-05:002011-01-23T14:53:33.343-05:00What a great post! I particularly love the part ab...What a great post! I particularly love the part about ALL of us having to endure frustration at some point, not just those who are differently abled! We all have strengths and weaknesses. And, again, I also love the part about celebrating our abilites! That is what truly matters - to see and acknowledge where we shine (as children and as mamas). Malakai walked very early, but still is not talking... And I was amazed at how dylan is talking and repeating words that you ask him to say :) !!! Different strengths and different challenges. <br /><br />Hope your happiness project is going well! I still haven't started mine, truth be told, but I will soon!Loren Stowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02029794638872184342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3016568225160293031.post-75844306559776625612011-01-23T12:06:19.162-05:002011-01-23T12:06:19.162-05:00Great post, Laurie......I truly FEEL every word of...Great post, Laurie......I truly FEEL every word of it! Been struggling with these same issues! It is so tough to watch these frustrations.....for Landon & I.....it was the feeding thing, too.....which eventually led us to a feeding clinic. I know that he will do these.....but watching him get frustrated was making me equally (or more) frustrated! Why does this have to be so challenging for him?! But I see those frustrations in Mason & Elijah too!! <br /><br />You nailed it......look at all the things that they CAN DO!!! Ultimately, LIFE is full of challenges!! That's just how this game is played!! Giving our kiddos the tools to work through those challenges is all we really can do....after all.....we are playing this game of life too.....and have our own challenges to face! <br /><br />We will all get there....when WE are ready!!<br /><br />BTW, you were the 3 "friend" of mine that talked about the Happiness Project.....after your post, I finally bought the book!! I took that as a SIGN!!! Just started reading it and will begin MY project soon!! Thanks for little push.....I NEEDED IT:)Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02643251885429921088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3016568225160293031.post-68113207675831262102011-01-22T23:46:23.307-05:002011-01-22T23:46:23.307-05:00so true! Wise words.so true! Wise words.Christi Harrisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09625311140466535277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3016568225160293031.post-28671438107584864012011-01-22T20:52:43.909-05:002011-01-22T20:52:43.909-05:00I hear ya. It can be so painful as a parent to wa...I hear ya. It can be so painful as a parent to watch our kid work so hard to reach a milestone that is otherwise relatively easy for other kids. Even more so when we see the frustration on our little one's face. I have to tell you that I am a little perturbed at your new PT's question, "Why isn't he walking yet?". Excuse me, but does your son not only have DS, but did he not also undergo open heart surgery at 4 mos of age? That alone can set a kid back several months in terms of developmental milestones. I say this because my own 2yr old son Josh, who happens to have DS, also underwent a complete AV canal repair when he was 3 months old. Josh was seriously ill for several months after the surgery. My son's cardiologist believes that that alone set my son back at least three months, I can only imagine that your little guy is in a similar boat. Forget about the fact that the AVERAGE age for any kid with DS to begin walking is 24months. Does your PT not know this? Instead of asking why your son isn't walking, perhaps the new PT could inquire about what your son CAN do & offer suggestions as to how to build on those skills. Just sayin'......Looking Uphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00622397350942965771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3016568225160293031.post-79825587981951403962011-01-22T20:46:27.487-05:002011-01-22T20:46:27.487-05:00I'm not sure how old Dylan is but wanted to le...I'm not sure how old Dylan is but wanted to let you know that Morgan didn't take her first steps until she was 29 months old. 6 years later and she rides a bike with training wheels all over the neighborhood, rides her scooter, hops, skips. She can do everything her peers can do. You would NEVER know she was one of the last one of her Ds friends to walk. Don't stress over the walking. He'll do it when he wants to. Promise!heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01061626477737855499noreply@blogger.com