| p>It's been another wonderful month with my son. | | | | before you put it all together. It makes grandma so |
| Each month I see him increasing his desire for | | | | proud to watch you do the little game she teaches all |
| independence. There is already an instinctive attitude | | | | her grandchildren. |
| of "I can do it!" With this attitude comes frustration, | | | | - You are beginning to initiate play a lot more now. |
| perseverance, and ultimately a sense of growing | | | | Sometimes when nobody is paying attention to you, |
| competence. Allowing him to go through the times of | | | | you'll throw your sweet little arms straight up in the air |
| frustration helps to build the perseverance, which is all | | | | until one of us looks at you. All we have to say is "so |
| worth it when I see that look of "I did it!" Many of the | | | | big," and you start giggling. Once you have our |
| milestones written to him below are a direct result of | | | | attention, you'll stop playing the game. You think it's |
| allowing him to fail, persevere (with or without a little | | | | funny to tease us by getting it started and then |
| support), and succeed. | | | | refusing to do it again. I love your little sense of humor |
| - You are so busy discovering new things. Your old | | | | already! |
| toys are no longer fun, and you find so much more | | | | - Solid foods are becoming more common for you. |
| enjoyment out of strings, boxes, spoons, and other | | | | Cheerios are the best thing ever; and if half of them |
| non-toy items. I love sitting back and watching you find | | | | make it in your mouth, you are doing pretty well. I |
| something you want and go after. | | | | usually find most of them in your bib, on the high chair, |
| - Because of your increased curiosity, you have found | | | | or on the ground. You're getting the hang of it though, |
| new ways to move around to get where you want to | | | | and each week it becomes easier and easier. I can't |
| go. You started off rolling everywhere, but that wasn't | | | | believe you are just around the corner from feeding |
| always such an effective method. At church one | | | | yourself. You don't even need me to hold your bottle |
| morning, I watched you eyeing a little girl your age as | | | | all the time anymore, but we both prefer it when I do. |
| she crawled around and pulled herself up to stand. | | | | This is the only cuddle time we get. |
| You watched intently. It wasn't but a few days later | | | | - Getting kisses from you is a new favorite for me. I'll |
| that you began to move forward and try to pull | | | | pick you up and say "kisses," and you'll lean in with |
| yourself up. Although you are only making small strides, | | | | your mouth wide open. I can't ever get enough kisses; |
| you are beginning to get where you want in a forward | | | | although with your little teeth coming in, I'm beginning to |
| but awkward motion. It's really cute. Your left arm | | | | get bitten instead of kissed. I guess we'll have to work |
| reaches out, and then you pull yourself forward over | | | | on hugs. |
| that arm. The right arm offers little assistance. | | | | It can be very difficult to watch a child struggle with |
| Grandma found that to be very funny, as you are | | | | something, and not just step in and do it for him/her. I |
| taking on the same strange crawling patterns that your | | | | often watch my son try to eat a Cheerio, and I just |
| daddy used. | | | | want to grab it and put it in his mouth for him. I watch |
| - You know your name now. We have lots of little | | | | him scooting, and I can tell where he is trying to go - I |
| nicknames for you too, and you respond to all of them. | | | | want to pick him up and move him there, but I resist. I |
| I'll be sitting on the couch watching you play, and I'll call | | | | let him try, I let him fail, but I'm always ready to support |
| your name. You stop what you are doing, and turn | | | | him to ensure that he'll be successful. It's from very |
| with the most beautiful smile. It melts my heart, so I | | | | early on that infants learn to persevere through their |
| interrupt your play a lot just so I can see that precious | | | | failures to come out ahead. There is a tough balance, |
| face. | | | | though, between overcompensating and |
| - Patterns are becoming more and more evident to | | | | under-compensating - especially if you have a child |
| you. Playing Patty Cake is one of your favorite games. | | | | with special needs. If you do too much for your child |
| I like to be that annoying mother who wants to show | | | | (overcompensating), perseverance will not be |
| off your cool tricks, so I'll say "Patty Cake." You look | | | | established, and a desire to try new things will seldom |
| right at me with a smile, and start clapping. Your little | | | | occur. If you don't offer enough support |
| clap is so cute. Your right hand will be wide open, but | | | | (under-compensating), a constant feeling of |
| your left hand will be in a ball. As the month went on | | | | incompetence will be built, ending with the same result. |
| you got better and better at the motions that go with | | | | The RDIÒ program helps to find that right |
| this little chant. We always end it with a "so big." Your | | | | balance, giving your child the necessary amount of |
| little arms shoot right above your head. It's funny to | | | | support to become confident with an increased desire |
| see, because your hands barely reach the top of your | | | | to try new things. Through RDIÒ, we can help |
| head. One day you'll only do the clapping, the next day | | | | you help your child fail successfully! |
| you'll only do the "so big"; but I know it won't be long | | | | |