Guest blogger, Amy Stout, and her husband Dan waited a long time to hear their daughter Kylie speak on her own. The day she made her needs known to her daddy was a flag-waving, yahoo-shouting, tear-jerker-of-a-moment. But, as Amy explains, she and Dan burst out laughing instead. And you might, too…

Something About a Booger, Part 1

Painful as it may be, a significant emotional event can be the catalyst for choosing a direction that serves us- and those around us- more effectively. Look for the Learning.
~Louisa May Alcott

I remember the day that my daughter made her first request. A therapist from Early Access was working with our 2-year-old baby girl and, honestly, it was painful to watch. My daughter wanted a puzzle piece and the therapist kindly and gently refused my daughter her desire because she didn’t use her words.

I remember sitting there feeling tortured wanting to scream at the therapist.

I was an expert (and still am) at anticipating my daughter’s needs and meeting them before she had/has a chance to be uncomfortable.

I remember my daughter extending her sweet little hand and reaching for the puzzle piece. It was just out of her reach. She then began pushing at the therapist. She was getting more frustrated and more frustrated. Soon little tears welled up in her eyes. I could tell my girl was going to break down any second.

I Wanted to Shake the Therapist

I felt so enraged inside; I wanted to shake the therapist! How dare she make my daughter cry over a puzzle piece! Honestly!! Is this really how we are going to teach her? I was quite upset! I wanted to gather my baby in my arms and shower her with puzzle pieces and hug her hurt feelings away.

I don’t know how I kept my composure, but I made a huge effort to staple my mouth shut and sit on my hands. It took everything I had. I wanted nothing more than to rescue my girl (and throttle the therapist — did I just say that?)

I Want Puzzle

About the time that my daughter’s tears were ready to drop on her precious baby cheek, the therapist said (for the 10th time…) “I …want…” – the silence was deafening, but then, my baby opened her mouth and said very quietly “I.want.puzzle”

A bomb could have dropped in my living room and I wouldn’t have been phased! I was so shocked to hear my daughter speak. I felt as though I couldn’t breathe. In slow motion, I looked at my husband and noticed that we both were weeping. We embraced and rejoiced over what beautiful music her voice was!!

I have since wondered what would have happened if I had followed my instinct to rescue my girl. Would she be talking now?

I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.
~Louisa May Alcott

Three Years Later

It has been 3 years since that day and still my daughter has significant trouble communicating. 95% of the things she says are a form of echolalia or parroting (repeating phrases she has heard in movies, lines from books or etc).

It is heartbreaking. There is so much we want to know about our girl… what is her favorite color? Does she like her room? What does she want for her birthday? How would she like to spend a day? Where/what would she like to eat for dinner? How does she feel about things?

So many answers are locked inside our girl.

It is especially difficult when the general public are kind enough to try to interact with our girl. It might be the checker at Walmart or the greeter at church It becomes Dan and My responsibility to “smooth things over” for these kind people so they are not embarrassed. We often tell Kylie what to say and she dutifully repeats it.

Hooray for Sign Language

Though we did have one surprise: When we realized that Kylie was going to have difficulty with communication, we began to teach her sign language (www.signingtime.com – I can’t say enough positive about this program). Kylie was a quick learner and we found that while she would not speak appropriately or in a meaningful way, she would sign. One evening, at Walmart, we were paying for our purchases when we realized that our checker was deaf. She signed to Kylie and – much to our surprise- Kylie signed back. The checker was completely shocked and it meant so much to her!!

Over the past three years, Dan and I have often wondered what Kylie’s first APPROPRIATE and ORIGINAL sentence would be. Well, this past week we found out.

The three of us were in the living room and Kylie was trying to tell Dan something. He was clearly having a hard time figuring out what she was trying to say and she was quickly getting frustrated. He looked at me for help (As I care for her 24/7, I usually can follow/discern what it is she is wanting).

She Was Trying to Tell Us Something

I realized she was saying something about “booger”… she was getting more and more animated and even I was having trouble… I finally took a step back and said “Kylie, tell Daddy what you want”… (then I prompted) “I want..” Kylie looked him right in the eye and said plain as day….

“I want booger out please!”

It was hilarious! Not only her choice of things to ask for, but the look on Dan’s face when it dawned on him that she wanted him to PICK HER NOSE!!!

So THIS would be her first appropriate and original/meaningful sentence. I LOVE IT!

I am so excited for what is to come. (you can bet I am writing all of this down)

Come Back Tomorrow!

Now, this story is pretty funny the way it is. But you have got to come back tomorrow for Part 2. In it, Amy draws some amazing and hilarious conclusions related to Kylie’s first sentence. Believe me, you won’t want to miss it. Until then, read more of the adventures of Kylie at www.histreasuredprincess.blogspot.com.

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