Stuttering, Santa & kindness
About 3 months ago, the Batsman began to stutter. Badly.
It came from nowhere and before we knew it, he was stuttering in around half of the words he spoke. The Batsman has long struggled to build confidence in his use of language and in social interactions with other kids. For him to now be grappling with this latest challenge, seems so unfair. It's heartbreaking to listen to.
We have begun to work with a speech fluency specialist, insert: expensive extra therapy requiring regular driving to the other side of town, and little by little, we are making progress. The Batsman seems a little bit aware of his stuttering but thankfully it hasn't stopped him from attempting to speak. We hope that smoother speech will be his before he starts primary school next year.
We began to have a bit of a Santa conversation the other day. Santa has been a bit of an abstract concept for a long time for the Batsman and it really took up to last Christmas (when he was 4) for him to understand what it means. I too, have struggled a bit with setting up the whole "Santa comes and brings you presents every year" only for a boy with autism who takes things VERY literally to later learn that it is all a made upcrock fantasy.
But all that aside, I sat down with the Batsman and the Bowler and we chatted about what they might like for Santa to bring them for Christmas this year. The Bowler (aged 3.5) very quickly reeled off twenty things he would like from Santa, much of it Thomas the train related. Okay then, we will see what Santa can do about that.
The Batsman sat very thoughtfully for a few minutes and when I prompted him with the question a second time he said "I think I would like Santa to bring a bike for you Mum". At present I am the only bikeless member of the family, a matter which has clearly not escaped the attention of my kind and selfless boy. There may have been a little water leaking from my eyes at this point.
And when he spoke that gorgeous sentence, there was not a single stutter in it.
Image via WeHeartIt
We began to have a bit of a Santa conversation the other day. Santa has been a bit of an abstract concept for a long time for the Batsman and it really took up to last Christmas (when he was 4) for him to understand what it means. I too, have struggled a bit with setting up the whole "Santa comes and brings you presents every year" only for a boy with autism who takes things VERY literally to later learn that it is all a made up
But all that aside, I sat down with the Batsman and the Bowler and we chatted about what they might like for Santa to bring them for Christmas this year. The Bowler (aged 3.5) very quickly reeled off twenty things he would like from Santa, much of it Thomas the train related. Okay then, we will see what Santa can do about that.
The Batsman sat very thoughtfully for a few minutes and when I prompted him with the question a second time he said "I think I would like Santa to bring a bike for you Mum". At present I am the only bikeless member of the family, a matter which has clearly not escaped the attention of my kind and selfless boy. There may have been a little water leaking from my eyes at this point.
And when he spoke that gorgeous sentence, there was not a single stutter in it.
Image via WeHeartIt
What a darling, darling boy. I don't know a lot about stuttering but for the people I know who do have a stutter it appears the important things always get said clearly.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have tears in my eyes ..... Your Batsman is truly full of wisdom, kindness and a beautiful sensitive boy xxx
ReplyDeleteThat's just lovely xo
ReplyDeleteThese kids are pretty amazing.
ReplyDeleteOne thing... we have just crossed this bridge - the one where we told our 14 nearly 15 year old about us/presents/Santa.
He actually was the one who gave us the way... "You know Mum, there is so much in this world we cannot see and others think isn't real, but we have to believe in what we see from the heart. Magic isn't always visible, after all, how many people have actually seen God?" As I believe in magic, dragons and miracles, I cannot see any issue.
And he knows we have been buying the gifts, but did ask if Saint Nick was a person in the past.
Just yummy gorgeous. What a beautiful boy. I wish him so much more of the good things to come his way. Santa or no Santa.
ReplyDeleteThere may be a little water leaking from my eyes too. x
ReplyDelete