Max’s evaluation went really well. While he certainly has some “developmental delays”, he should have every opportunity to catch up. Or at least be pretty close. And then again, maybe he’ll need a lot of help forever. Who can say? He is going to go to a special preschool where he will hopefully learn to talk, take directions, and file taxes. It’s quite a program.
This experience with Max brings out new feelings and insecurities I never knew I had. I’ll admit that sometimes I hate hearing what somebody else’s three or even two year-old can say or do. I don’t have a list of things that Max really excels at, other than identifying Buzz Lightyear, and sometimes that makes me sad. I sit and hope that I have never gone on and on about Christian’s brightness, and as I type this, I know I probably have. I probably made somebody else feel bad. I’m so sorry if I did. I didn’t mean to, and I know that other proud parents don’t mean any harm to me. Here’s life teaching me once again to shut up.
Max has “developmental delays”, which may just be a politically correct word for what playground kids call “dumb”. And maybe he’ll be the valedictorian of his college class. It’s certainly too early to be sure, and nothing is ever for sure anyway. What I want for him more than anything else is happiness, and heaven knows he’s got plenty of that.
I’ve tried to write some kind of response to your post three or four times now. This is a topic that is so close to my heart because of our Matthew, yet it is something I find hard to discuss in very much detail.
Matt is absolutely a brilliant ray of sunshine in my life. I love him so very much. But I do have worries about his future. I worry about whether or not we’re doing enough to help him grow and progress. I also worry that with Matt’s challenges (our youngest) and Josh’s diabetes (our oldest) that my two middle children will forever feel they didn’t get the attention they deserved.
Let’s just all agree to be grateful for the blessings of life. May we have the wisdom to learn the lessons that are there for us.
Me here: Thanks, John, I couldn’t agree with you more. I’ve thought a lot about you guys during this, and you should know that you’re such an example to me. Life is beautiful.
Speaking as Grandma, there is something I know for absolute sure: there is no delayed learning of how to be happy and joyful and win hearts when it comes to these little guys. They are right where they need to be, and are lapping up the love and light you are providing. Have I not reminded you recently that Einstein was delayed in learning? And hey, I’m finally reading the O.T,, and how about Moses? We live in a culture that measures everything. I suppose that’s good. But some things just can’t be measured. Including the love of a grandparent.