There's pain to be had in comparing. You'd think all of us would learn this at some point. When will I see we're all on a different train on different journeys in this life? No matter how useless comparisons are, I continue to make them. In regards to Christian they aren't helpful. The therapists find them helpful I suppose when they evaluate Christian by comparing him with "normal" children his age. When the Alta regional lady made her 6 month visit yesterday, she asked me if he had any playmates his own size. I realized I've been keeping Christian isolated. The reason is it hurts when he's around an 18 month old who runs and he doesn't. It stings when a child his age says a full understandable sentence and I'm the only one that can understand Christian's few words. On the other hand, I know there are kids who have it worse. So being in a playgroup around the kids with severe handicaps makes me feel guilty for paining over my son because of his delays.So I guess that's why I just keep him all to myself. When its just us two the ankle orthotics and drool are normal and all new developments are exciting because I don't read up on what to expect for his age anymore. Christian can be on his own train when its just us.
I guess this isolating won't work for too much longer because he'll need some little friends. The Alta lady is having me start him in a once a week playgroup/parent participating preschool. We'll have to see how that goes. It's such a blessing that he has all sorts of therapists and resources so that by next year he can be even further along.
In the mean time, my guy had his second birthday. He hated for anyone to mention his birthday, ask how old he was, or sing. He scrunched his little face and jutted out his lower lip. He loved his cake however and the toy garbage truck, complete with little cans. Maybe by next year he'll get why birthdays are nothing to pout about.
