Inchstones

Most new parents are inundated with the word "milestones".  Even before the baby is born, they're aware that certain "milestones" are to be expected as their new baby develops.  And there's always some little disclaimer about there being a wide range of time when these "milestones" may occur, so not to worry of you're baby reaches them a little late.  In even smaller print is the disclaimer about speaking to your pediatrician if you have concerns about your baby not meeting them.  Most parents' concerns are quickly dismissed by the pediatrician and the parents' hearts and minds set to ease.

There are others of us who have valid concern.  And after watching those precious little time frames slide by, we readjust our expectations.  We begin to seriously celebrate our babies' "inchstones".

And we are infinitely more grateful for these inchstones than parents of typically developing children.  Please do not misunderstand me...every single time any child achieves something new is reason to celebrate.  But for parents of children with delays, it holds a lot more weight.

I am not the first to write about the gratefulness of new achievements made by children with delays.  I was inspired to write this blog by another blogger, Dana Nieder, and her profound blog Uncommon Sense.  Specifically, a post entitled We Are More Thankful Than You Are.  In a nutshell, Dana writes about how parents of typically developing children take for granted that their children will walk, talk, make friends, have meaningful relationships, go to college, get married, have a family of their own.

Do I know that these things are in PB's future?  Not at all.  Every cell in my body hopes these things for my son.  I am encouraged by the inchstones he is reaching though.  They seem to come in clusters.

In the last month, PB said "mamamama" and "dadadada" and we think we might have heard a "babababa".  He has begun to pull up on toys and furniture regularly.  He has taken up to 15 or 20 unassisted steps.  He is clapping all the time now and occasionally signing "more" at the appropriate times.  He plays with a ball dropper the right way and does it again and again, giggling the whole time.

Every single time PB does something like that, an inchstone, my heart skips a beat.  Literally.  I cry and, through my tears, see a glimmer of hope that PB will achieve the things parents of typically developing children take for granted. 

I am more thankful than you are.  I mean absolutely no disrespect by it or in any way mean to imply that when your child reaches a milestone that it isn't an awesome thing.  It totally is.  It will just simply mean more to me when PB does the same thing.