This blog hop is a community project of Down syndrome Blogs and the T21 Alliance. The code is set up so that everyone can participate by adding their link to their post – and host if they want, by adding the code to their own post! So, just follow the instructions through the linky tool (below)
(3):
One truth (about Ds/our lives with Ds)
One tip (- information on something related to Ds/raising a child with Ds/or just parenting in general)
One photo
One truth (about Ds/our lives with Ds)
One tip (- information on something related to Ds/raising a child with Ds/or just parenting in general)
One photo
My Truth
Everyone (including me) gets the urge to "compare" our child who has an extra chromosome to others. There's the urge to see if your child meets "milestones" on time or how he/she is doing developmentally as compared to other children.
While these milestones can be helpful at times, they can also take over your natural parenting and have an affect on your self-esteem and your relationship with your child.
While these milestones can be helpful at times, they can also take over your natural parenting and have an affect on your self-esteem and your relationship with your child.
My Tip
Fight the urge to compare. Do what you can to encourage and enable your child, but try not to get discouraged by "typical development." Your child will progress on his/her own timeline.
For example, I took Josh to several specialists for behavior and potty training because I thought he should be further along than he was. Once the doctors assured me that there was nothing physically keeping from progressing, I had to relax and let Josh take his own time. Pressuring him would have only hurt both of us.
OH! As a side bit of advice, I found out when Josh turned 16 and really started developing complex language skills that he remembered a lot more than I thought he did. Just because your child may not speak eloquently doesn't mean he/she isn't listening to you talk about him/her. Resist that urge too! :)
For example, I took Josh to several specialists for behavior and potty training because I thought he should be further along than he was. Once the doctors assured me that there was nothing physically keeping from progressing, I had to relax and let Josh take his own time. Pressuring him would have only hurt both of us.
OH! As a side bit of advice, I found out when Josh turned 16 and really started developing complex language skills that he remembered a lot more than I thought he did. Just because your child may not speak eloquently doesn't mean he/she isn't listening to you talk about him/her. Resist that urge too! :)
One Photo
Josh got a "Certificate of Completion" that didn't even fit in the diploma folder. If I'd let that comparison get me down, this Hallelujah! we're DONE with school day wouldn't have been as great as it was!