Let's Talk.

One of the things I love about coming home from work is hearing about what everyone has been doing in the day. Alex can usually give me a running commentary about every aspect of his life, including how many farts he's done or how many chips he's eaten for tea and the reasons why one particular chip may have not been edible. If I ask him what he's done at school he'll say "nothing" or "can't remember", then will burst out some random facts about Nelson Mandela or Samuel Pepys when he's ready.

William can't tell me what he's been up to, even if he's had the most amazing day ever. I find that pretty hard to deal with some days to be honest.

Williams' class at school recently had a trip to a Safari Park. He was obviously shattered when I got home and had been a busy boy, but could not tell me what he's seen or done. I tried several simple-worded questions to try and get a response, I talk about animals, the school bus, the teachers, and nothing gets a response, not even one word. Instead, we go back to the familiar routine of repeating lines from Iggle piggle and that's all I'm gonna get.

I rely on the school teachers and assistants writing in his planner to find out what he's done in a school day. He doesn't come home and say any words that might give me a clue, but on odd days he will say something out of the blue, like count numbers up to 30, or repeat lines that the teacher may have said weeks ago.

As it turns out, despite being wary of the monkeys hijacking the school mini-bus, William enjoyed himself on the school trip. Apparently he really loved the sealions and watched these for ages.

It's hard to think that William might never really talk for pleasure or have a 'chat' with his mum, and its difficult that I have to learn about how he's doing or how he might be feeling through someone elses observations.

On the other hand we have Alex gob-almighty whose brain is constantly whirring away thinking of crap to tell you. And I love it, I'm astonished that someone so small can retain so much bizarre information :)

Take time to listen to your kids guys and gals, even if you think its annoying drivel. It's not to them, it's important. Yes, even the conversation about what colour their snot was at break time. You could be in my position where your child CAN'T talk to you, and that's pretty sad.

We WILL get there one day with William. I WILL have that chat. It might be through pictures or symbols, but it will happen one day, I'm sure of it.

Watch out for the swinging monkeys, Wottingers!