Every doctor's visit we get a check list for Lucy.
- Does she know her name?
- Does she say mommy/daddy, or some variation?
- Does she assist you with dressing her?
- Does she try to climb?
Sometimes they are difficult to answer. The bragger mom in me wants to say, "Yes! My child is super smart and can do anything!" The paranoid mom in me wants to answer the question correctly. I hate that the only options are: Yes and No.
Where is my 'Maybe'?
Alright, so I would check 'Yes'. I just always feel the need to follow up with an essay answer.
When the doctor goes over the questions and answers with us, I feel like my parenting skills are being tested.
"How many words does Lucy know?"
"Oh, lots.....um....."
I start counting on my fingers, while quietly whispering, "...momma, dada, Chico, thank you, please, puppy, baby.." and so on.
Finally I just blurt out, "... like ten."
Immediately, I think, "Does 'thank you' count as two words then? Lucy also says, 'Here you go.' Does that count as three? Or, since I counted the 'you' in 'thank you' already, is it just two?" - Ugh!
I just want to say, "Lucy is really smart and she amazes me with everything she knows! We try to work with her as much as possible and sometimes she says or does things I didn't even realize she knew!"
I have to remind myself that the doctor isn't questioning Lucy's intelligence and she isn't grilling me on my parenting. She is asking, so she can recognize developmental problems.
Cori - she is asking you, so she can recognize developmental problems!
At the 15 month appointment, we were asked how many body parts Lucy knows. Dang it! We haven't even been working with her on it. We didn't really even realize that she was old enough learn them. When I think about it....well, duh! Therefore, we've been working on them a lot. She already knows foot, nose, belly button, eyes, and mouth.
She's going to ace that 18 month appointment. haha.
Oh wait, this isn't about questioning her intelligence or my parenting skills...I obviously need to refer back to the underlined text above.
Do you see the issue? Am I the only one?
She is smart! In Texas she said Nik, When I told her to get alex's belly she leaned over and blew on it, when I said to get his nose she did. don't worry. She is brilliant! But, Im a bit biased.
ReplyDeleteLOL! Just wait until she gets to school! There is a whole lot of developmental checklists there! :)
ReplyDeleteps- you are perfectly normal. I was the same way. The good news? It decreases slightly with each child you have. :)
no! you are so not the only one. but as I'm sure every other mother has told you, it. just. doesnt. matter. At least not right now. If she is doing all the basics, every single kid develops at separate rates.
ReplyDeleteWhen I had only my first kid, I was on the computer ALL THE TIME youtubing videos of, is my kid normal? does he have a real developmental delay? omg omg omgomg.
second kid? never ever. cause he's doing just fine for him :)
You're not the only one! We often leave appointments feeling like grade F parents when the children in our home are developmentally behind due to trauma they've experienced before they came to us. We're very fortunate to have doctors to check this stuff out so we can work on it. Lucy is the cutest smartest little girl around. I love reading all of your proud comments.
ReplyDeleteI totally get this, I really do. And just be honest if you haven't thought to teach her something. And write "sometimes" besides the checklist. No one is grading it :) I know there was always the "can he/she find a toy hidden?" well...I never thought to hide a toy from my kids. And I just say we'll work on it. :D BUT be truthful always because in case something is ever wrong, you want the right information!! :D
ReplyDelete