Lucas loves to play with the kitchen! I found Lucas a young toddler group "preschool" program! It's called Little Inquisitors, and is held Wednesday EVENINGS from 6:30-7:30. That's right, that means that I can take Lucas! It's so perfect. The kids get 1/2 an hour of free play time followed by a circle time and a craft. There's a certified teacher, and best of all, it's free. I'm so excited. I've been looking for some kind of a program to help prepare Lucas for preschool and maybe the toddler group at Clarke this winter. It's always a plus to have hearing peers around too.
This week was the second time Lucas attended. Last week was really great. This week was just okay. That won't discourage us from going back next week though. Last week, one of the mothers asked about Lucas's CI, so I talked about it and everyone listened for a few minutes. It was great to have the opportunity to educate. This week though, there were some different mothers there, who just smiled and looked away. I could have spoken up, but I wasn't in the mood. I don't want his CI to be the center of attention or to detract from other conversations (that I wasn't in on anyway). Maybe next week I'll speak up.
Lucas is definitely the youngest and smallest in the group, so his delays are more apparent. He is approaching 2 and many of these kids are approaching 3. That's doesn't help any. Even with his recent language gains, he still kind of babbles like a baby, which invites a lot of interesting looks. He wouldn't sit for circle time tonight either, so we went and played with the younger kids in another room, which was just fine. I just kind of left feeling a little down.
I'm really not trying to complain. I'm so proud of how far he has come, and I'm so very pleased with all of his recent gains. But I'm also very aware of how far he has to go to catch up with his hearing peers. I know he is on his own path, and that he will do just fine. But I think it's good to keep perspective too. I am generally very positive about everything going on with Lucas, but I do have my moments. Don't we all? Tonight just kind of reminded me of landing in Holland, and wishing I could go to Italy for the day. Tomorrow's another day.
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5 comments:
We definitely all have our moments!
Tayten has his birthday party this weekend and seeing him with all his hearing peers is going to be something! ...I am just not sure what. I know their language is much more advanced then Tayten's, but then I look at how far Tayten, as an individual, and see how far he's come and it amazes me.
Look at your side bar. Look at those expressions! There is a pattern. He is saying more and more each month. Lucas is doing amazing things.
And you said it: he is going on two. I know some little guys (hearing) that don't have nearly the approximations, not that it makes it better, but it shows that everyone grow at their own pace.
I am glad you found a fun outing for you both to prepare Lucas for preschool in the near future. I hope next week is better!
Yeah, we all have those days. And it's tough to carry around the burden of having something to explain -- the equipment, how much progress he's made despite initial appearances, etc. But hopefully the clientele will stabilize, and you'll get those natural opportunities to explain, and then you'll have a cohort for Lucas and yourself who "get it" -- at least a little.
I hate those "smile and try not to notice" moments, too, and I never know whether to discuss the CI or leave it alone. I don't want Ben to be defined by his equipment and hearing loss, but I also don't want him to be ashamed of it. So when in the order of things do we bring it up? First? Third? Not until asked?
Lucas is doing so well! Look at his progress! That photo of him at his class is adorable. I hope next week is better.
What a great program- it sounds similar to Nolan's "Two By Two" program. Luckily the parents are always the same in Nolan's class, so one explanation is enough. It can be tough to make the comparisons, I think we all do it! Nolan is one of the youngest in his class, too, and there is a WORLD of difference between the young 2 year olds and the almost-3 year olds. Luckily there is a boy younger than Nolan in the class, and that makes it a little easier because they're closer in skill level.
We had the first class today, and it was apparent that Nolan "sounds different" from the other kids. While Nolan has words, they all shouted out "cow!" and Nolan said his version of cow (which sounds like dah). He kept shouting "dah!" and no one else knew what he was saying..
I just keep trying to remember this is the beginning of the long journey and there is a lot of room for growth and learning over the next several years!
What a great program ... and it's free!?! That's awesome. Then you don't feel compelled to go every single week too.
We are definitely all allowed our moments and I say take them, vent about them, do what you have to do to get it out and then feel better. I know you know how wonderful Lucas is doing, but sometimes we need that pick me up, that hug, those words of encouragement (or words of agreement) and I'm sending all of these your way tonight.
Wish we were closer, I'd come over and drink a nice glass of wine ... because I feel like being in Italy right now too! SMILE! Tomorrow is another day and Lucas is such a rockstar! Hugs to you all!
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