Parenting

My Child's Top 10 Milestones: Special Needs Style

My husband and I rejoiced last week when our son achieved a milestone that was years in the making - just shy of his twelfth birthday. Since our son has global developmental delays, his milestones are different from the charts published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. And besides, we have a different way of observing those developmental leaps, even in the midst of meltdowns and daily struggles.  What others may consider "problem behaviors," we see as opportunities to practice and learn necessary life skills. Here are 10 of the most thrilling parenting moments we have ever experienced.

10. Planned and executed a three-step activity

Age 18 months: removed all clothing, unlocked the front door and ran outside into the snow (he waited until I was in the bathroom).

9. Self-regulation

Age 2 years: able to fall asleep somewhere other than on a parent’s body. 

8. Self-feeding and fine motor control

Age 3 years: picked his nose and ate the booger.

7. Self-regulation and impulse control

Age 3: able to walk with a parent in public instead of running into a crowd or the street.

6. Pretend play

Age 5.5: copied my pregnancy by stuffing his teddy bear into his shirt. 

5. Sibling interaction

Age 7: screamed, “No! Mine!” while grabbing toys from curious younger brother. 

4. Age-appropriate group play

Age 8: got addicted to Beatles RockBand on the Xbox - both drums and singing.

3. Fine motor control and empathy

Age 8.5: cut his own hair at 4am, but didn’t wake up parents out of concern for their exhaustion.

2. Self-care and creative problem solving

Age 11 years: used half a tube of Balmex diaper rash cream to treat a small patch of dry skin on his back. 

1. Self-care and conscious control of breathing

Almost 12 years: learned to blow his nose into a tissue. Please share your family's most memorable milestones in the comments below!