A severe speech delay.
He’s hard to understand.
He doesn’t speak as well as he should at 31 months of age.
He doesn’t even speak as well as he should have at 24 months of age.
We have a long road ahead.
Many days, weeks and months of speech therapy.
Continuing therapy when he enters preschool.
To deny he has a problem is a disservice to him.
To brush it off as unimportant makes it seem like we can’t face his problems because it would somehow make him “less.”
To deny he has a problem is to tell him that we don’t think he’s wonderful even WITH a speech delay.
To deny he has a problem and not get him the help he needs would put him at a huge disadvantage later in life.
To deny that he has a speech delay is to deny a part of him.
My son has a speech delay.
That is his truth.
That is our truth.
We are not ashamed to admit it.
We are not ashamed of him.
Our child has a speech delay.
And we think he’s pretty awesome.
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{ 48 comments… read them below or add one }
Of course he is awesome!
Oh, Meghan, I love this post.
Truly. The doctors haven’t given us a diagnosis yet, wanting to wait til she’s 2 before they give her a “full” evaluation, but I know she’s behind. WAY behind. But she’s awesome anyway. So is Zach.
xoxo
.-= avasmommy´s last blog ..Why My Future Grandchild has a Yellow Lump on Her Head =-.
He’s the cutest kid evah!!! Love the pictures. Do I get to meet him while I’m in LA in April? I hope so!!!
.-= AmazingGreis´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday – Busted… =-.
Have you had him evaluated yet? We just started looking into a speech therapist for our son who is 39 months old. There are many state programs that will provide a therapist to come to your home and work with him if he qualifies… there are many helpful avenues if you google your state and speech intervention etc.
We’re in the same boat and I know how it feels… I hope that your road ahead is easy and smooth!
Good luck, mama. xx
Here’s the post where I talked about Bubba’s speech delay if you are at all interested
http://www.mommasgonecity.com/2010/03/hello-again.html
.-= Jessica´s last blog ..City Kids =-.
Hi Jessica,
Oh, yes, he’s been evaluated…I forgot to add the link when I first published the post (http://amomtwoboys.com/2009/12/brevity-is-the-soul-of-wit/). He saw a therapist twice a week until we moved and we just saw his new therapist for the first time today. Our county provides state funded assistance until the age of 3 and the school district provides assistance from that point on. He LOVES speech therapy, it’s an hour of uninterrupted Zach play time!
Good luck with Bubba!
~Meg
He IS awesome. And you are too.
.-= Heather of the EO ´s last blog ..A Moment =-.
When I wrote about S’s movement disorder almost two years ago, I think I said the EXACT same thing. We think he’s awesome.
I think YOU are awesome. I wonder how many people ignore the ways they can help their kids. So glad you’re facing this head on with your chin held high.
And he is totally, totally awesome. (And adorable.)
.-= Maria´s last blog ..use your words =-.
He is adorable. You’re absolutely doing the right thing by not “brushing it off” and no, it doesn’t make him less in any way… you know that. Good for you, lady! He’s already awesome. He’ll be supah-awesome after some time and therapy! Hooray!!
.-= Grumble Girl´s last blog ..The Five-Alarm Bitch =-.
I get this. So much. My son is going to be 4 next month and just started speech therapy, though he should have been in long ago. He’s perfectly brilliant, perfectly capable in every other way. His words are simply stuck.
.-= C @ Kid Things´s last blog ..Feet First =-.
We have faced a similar situation with our 4 y.o. son. I’m glad to say that he has made a lot of progress, but he still has ground to cover.
Very well said, and you are right. He is a gift, and you should be proud of him without shame or reservation.
I wish you the best of luck.
Sigh…could Zach Zach BE any cuter. I think it’s fantastic that you are getting him the help he needs and not being ashamed of it. There is nothing wrong with needing a little extra attention on something. Someday I want to be JUST like you when I grow up.
xoxo
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Yes you CAN have organized closets. =-.
If only he were happier! I love that little man so much!!
He sure is cute! Both of my 5 year old twins are in speech too. I always wonder if I should have had them evaluated earlier. Now I wonder about my almost 2 year old. Anyways, great post! Love the pics.
Just want you to know that our son went through the same thing when he was the same age. He is now a Junior at Auburn ( not Harvard) but we still are proud. Zach will be fine.. Do the therapy, listen to your gut and give him lots of opportunities to succeed at other things. He may be good at sports or music or art. It is your job to help him develop his strengths. The speech problems work themselves out with time and patience.
I’m sorry that you guys have to deal with this, but I am very glad that he has such wonderful parents to help him face and overcome this obstacle. Thanks for sharing the pics, he’s adorable.
.-= Jen @ lifelove’n'wine´s last blog ..He’s 30 =-.
Zach has charm that oozes from his pores.
To say he’s awesome is putting it mildly.
He will kick the speech delay’s ass.
I think you’re awesome. And him. And the other two, too
XO.
.-= anymommy´s last blog ..Mirror, Mirror =-.
My son has a severe speech delay as well. He’s 25 months and is speaking at about a 14/15 month level. So I hear ya!! In fact, my son has many other problems. He amesome and amazing and inspiring!!
Zach is hands down one of the most amazing kids I’v e ever met. You can’t be around Zach and NOT smile.
And to be able to flirt the way he does, without speech? Dude, that is TALENT right there.
.-= Andrea’s Sweet Life´s last blog ..Here =-.
You are so right about it all 100% You guys are gonna kick arse is speech therapy. That kid has got it going on no matter what. His pics always make me smile.
I absolutely love this post. Good luck with his new therapist!
K had a speech delay along with nodules on her vocal cords. She still goes to speech as a first grader and has always loved it.
.-= Angela´s last blog ..Decisions, decisions =-.
So glad he loves his speech therapy time! And of course, he’s awesome. So are you.
You’re a good mama – he’s lucky to have you.
.-= pgoodness´s last blog ..Shine On =-.
Speech delay or not, he is darling! I love that last picture!
.-= Beth´s last blog ..4 Months =-.
I have a friend whose clearly very bright six year old has a significant speech issue. I can not imagine why they’re not addressing it. Meeting it head on is the only thing you can do. And does not diminish their awesomeness one iota.
.-= Manic Mommy´s last blog ..OMG – Ohm My God =-.
He has the biggest smile! Of course he’s awesome!
This post is amazing. And those pictures of Zach, so frickin’ adorable. You can just see he is so full of life.
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..Entertaining Her Stuff Animals =-.
He is awesome!!!! Great pics, too!
I have 2 kids who had speech delays.
.-= Anna See´s last blog ..Random Friday Round-Up =-.
Count us in too. Jack has been in speech therapy since he was 18 months… Now at 4 he is fine…He didnt really start talking till he was over 3 and now we cant shut him up!
Zach is awesome!
.-= Stacie´s last blog ..Jack and the 2 wheeler =-.
J has a speech delay and has been in speech therapy for 4 years. He’s finishing up kindergarten right now, and while he still is behind in a few areas, we’re gradually tapering off services. He’s doing wonderfully. At one point he was more than a year behind; right now he’s at age level except for a few articulations, where’s a couple years behind. BUT! Those few articulations are not enough to hold him back, mainly a determined lisp. Speech therapy is wonderful and worth every minute. He is now reading WAAAYYYY ahead of grade level, loves to write, and is getting more outgoing everyday. Speech delays can suck, but they’re nothing horrible.
It’ll be ok!
My youngest nephew at 3 was still having problems speaking clearly or in sentences. He finally started the next year after speech therapy. He just turned 7 this past Sunday and I miss the days he was quiet. He just never stops and he’s so smart. He will catch up.
You’re not alone. Anna had speech delay and at 2 years old, she had a 10-word vocabulary. She qualified for county services at 3 years, and then we found out she had acute anxiety disorder, then therapy for that.
You’re not alone, and neither is he.
Reach out for help. We are here.
.-= Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing]´s last blog ..The most EPIC blog post ever. =-.
My husband had a very severe speech delay. He had to have speech therapy for many, many years. And he’s gone on to become an attorney (that passed the bar the first time he took it) with a Master’s degree in his field of law. He’s a true testament to the fact that speech delays don’t mean anything in regards to a child’s potential, their ability to succeed, their ambition, or happiness. My son will most likely need speech therapy, so I understand those feelings. Your son is going to shine, and one day he’ll look back on speech therapy, and see a little boy that came so far…..he’ll be PROUD of his accomplishments. That’s priceless.
.-= Tricia´s last blog ..Tricia’s Trend Report-Spring 2010 =-.
The world needs more parents like you.
.-= Allyson´s last blog ..Him =-.
I agree.
My son is 37 months and has been in services since he was 17 months. The road is very slow, and he still has issues with his expressive language, but you know what? You’re absolutely right. Doing something now is absolutely so much better than waiting until school age. My son has made incredible strides, but because of his services, he’s going to take the world by storm.
.-= statia´s last blog ..Why I love my friends. =-.
My daughter has delays too. I know what you mean. He is a cutie.
.-= Mandi Bone´s last blog ..Twitter is NOT real. =-.
With parents who care so much, it won’t even matter that he has a speech delay! He is adorable, and with you stepping beside him? He’ll be great.
.-= Rachael´s last blog ..27/50? Not good enough! =-.
ain’t nothing to be ashamed of.
GAH I love that kid.
.-= heather…´s last blog ..Rock Stars =-.
Our flaws are what make us human. So congratulations, you gave birth to a human & not a cyborg baby. (There are some moms I know who, based on the way they talk about their kids, make me strongly suspect that they did in fact give birth to cyborg babies.)
He is adorable. And yes, completely awesome. xoxo
.-= cindy w´s last blog ..learning curve =-.
Well, the only thing you can do is move forward, right? Good on you to have the confidence to put it out there for all of us.
.-= Joe @ IrrationalDad´s last blog ..A Grounding Conversation =-.
What wonderful parents your little boy has.
.-= carol at A Second Cup´s last blog ..A Week That Would Change History: Yom Shlee´shee: Third Day =-.
Meghan I adore this post. All of our kids are individuals. It’s wrong to deny any part of them, at least in my mind. Those things, make them, them. Shrug.
Not everyone gets it, but I fully do.
ps. ADORE those first photos, especially that first one.
.-= Issa´s last blog ..Radio silent =-.
you are awesome. He is amazing and I am so happy to call you friend.
xo
.-= Heather @ Domestic Extraordinaire´s last blog ..Weekly Winners-The Three Six Five Edition =-.
He’s a big heaping pile of awesome.
And having met and heard his wonderful little voice, I have confidence that he’ll conquer this like every other challenge that’s faced him- with excitement and undeniable energy and enthusiasm.
I see so many kids in my line of work who have delays or problems, who desperately need speech therapy or occupational therapy, or just plain therapy… and their parents blindly tell me I’m talking crap, or the doctor’s talking crap, or the principal, or the other teachers… “Oh, not my little darling. He’s fine. He just has his idiosyncrasies.”
And I, as the teacher, am left to do whatever I can for a child who is drastically behind the rest of the class, a child I don’t have the slightest clue how to help because any resources specific to his problem that may have been provided by a professional have been denied me, and him.
The fact that you openly face Zach’s issues is amazing. Because it shows you don’t just love him, you honestly care enough to see his problems and not a lot of parents I know can do that. My former boss nearly fired me because I suggested to a parent that a child in my class might have a learning problem, and the parent complained and threatened to take the child out of the school.
I say good for you, that you love Zach enough to love any issues he has rather than sweeping them under the rug. It’s amazing to find parents like you who will go to the ends of the earth to make sure their children have the best possible start in life.
Also, just wanted to mention that he is absolutely one of the cutest 2.5-year-olds I have ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot.
Good for you for facing it and working on it. I know a man whose family didn’t, and he has been set back in life because no one can understand him.
.-= Suebob´s last blog ..The Layoff Chronicles Part 74: Job Search =-.
i think he is pretty awesome too and incredibly cute!! my son had a delay as well. through therapy, by 2nd grade he was on track!! nothing wrong with excepting there is a step to climb and getting help to climb it! only a problem if you had ignored the step, and walked away.
.-= jenn´s last blog ..Tiger Woods Dad Speaks On His Sons Scandalous Behavior =-.
I may not be in the same boat, but I know others who have been. One little girl who didn’t speak much at this same age (and now a chatter box as a tween). With a mom like you, your son is already one step ahead.
.-= Cat´s last blog ..Outta the heat and into the play =-.