I remember back when I was 29 years old..yep, 20 years ago this year. I told my boss where I worked, at the Sheraton Centre Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, that I was going to have a baby. Patrick and I bought as many baby books as we could find at the local book stores. We read the month-by-month accounts of what should happen during my pregnancy. Sometimes they were right on target....most times not. I had a fairly easy pregnancy. We did the obligatory lamaze class with a very spectacular Jamaican woman in the East Village...that was fun !!! Caitlin came fast and furious..so fast that the cab driver did not want any money from us after we went through every red light from 52nd street and 7th to 16th ave and 1st. Beth Israel was very slow that night. They thought I was exaggerating when I told them that I felt the head...by the way..they were wrong !!! Caitlin came out 8 pounds 11 ounces. She was gorgeous. Wide eyed and gorgeous.
Everything I had read about what to expect from the pregnancy and birth went flying out the window. This was my child and she was perfect. Even through the next few months of screaming, lack of sleep and also being a new wife... she was perfection to me.
As she approached the age of 1 years old, we moved down to Texas. Caitlin, still gorgeous and wonderful, was not doing what other 1 year old children do. We questioned the doctors, but they told us we were worrisome parent's. Caitlin continued to not talk and seemed to be in her own world. Now...if you know me... I believe in individualism...but, I am a ham. I love singing and dancing...especially Broadway musicals. I made Caitlin dance and sing with me. People were amazed that she was so lovey-dovey (poor kid did not have a choice).
I had an in-home day care and saw the other children and their growth. I knew that Caitlin was not like them...but frankly, I liked her better. She did not have the typical terrible twos...and I thank her for that.
In fact, none of my children had them. What the heck is the terrible 2's anyway? I have recently read where parent's are upset because their children missed being 2 years old because of Autism.... Where were they? Did they not turn 2? Were you so depressed in the Autism you missed it? Now, that is very sad to me !!!
I never expected any of our 6 children to be any ways near like each other. I never compared their milestones to be like each other. They are each individuals that will progress at their own paces. They each achieved in different areas at different times. No one is better than the other. They are who they are. I have no expectations of who they are going to be....they are mine.... That is enough !!!
I told my boss where I worked, at the Sheraton Centre Hotel in Midtown Manhattan,
that I was going to have a baby.
Patrick and I bought as many baby books as we could find at the local book stores.
We read the month-by-month accounts of what should happen during my pregnancy.
Sometimes they were right on target....most times not.
I had a fairly easy pregnancy.
We did the obligatory lamaze class with a very spectacular Jamaican woman in the
East Village...that was fun !!!
Caitlin came fast and furious..so fast that the cab driver did not want any money from
us after we went through every red light from 52nd street and 7th to 16th ave and 1st.
Beth Israel was very slow that night. They thought I was exaggerating when I told them
that I felt the head...by the way..they were wrong !!!
Caitlin came out 8 pounds 11 ounces. She was gorgeous. Wide eyed and gorgeous.
Everything I had read about what to expect from the pregnancy and birth went flying
out the window. This was my child and she was perfect.
Even through the next few months of screaming, lack of sleep and also being a new wife...
she was perfection to me.
As she approached the age of 1 years old, we moved down to Texas. Caitlin, still gorgeous
and wonderful, was not doing what other 1 year old children do. We questioned the doctors,
but they told us we were worrisome parent's.
Caitlin continued to not talk and seemed to be in her own world. Now...if you know me...
I believe in individualism...but, I am a ham. I love singing and dancing...especially Broadway
musicals. I made Caitlin dance and sing with me. People were amazed that she was so
lovey-dovey (poor kid did not have a choice).
I had an in-home day care and saw the other children and their growth. I knew that Caitlin
was not like them...but frankly, I liked her better. She did not have the typical terrible twos...and I thank her for that.
In fact, none of my children had them. What the heck is the terrible 2's anyway?
I have recently read where parent's are upset because their children missed being 2 years
old because of Autism....
Where were they?
Did they not turn 2?
Were you so depressed in the Autism you missed it?
Now, that is very sad to me !!!
I never expected any of our 6 children to be any ways near like each other.
I never compared their milestones to be like each other. They are each individuals
that will progress at their own paces. They each achieved in different areas at different
times. No one is better than the other. They are who they are.
I have no expectations of who they are going to be....they are mine....
That is enough !!!