Woohoo!

My three year old -soon to be four-is a twin. We suspect they both are autistic but she’s more challenging because her feelings are super strong and she has minimal speech. When she wants something, she will take your hand and lead you to it. If she says “Mommy” know that she won’t say it again till a few months pass. If she says “toes,” there’s no guarantee she will say it again. She is truly what I imagine a minimally speaking autistic is like.

But hey, it’s a step from non-speaking. And if she goes back to no verbal speech whatsoever, I hope she will learn to type or use some other form of AAC to communicate with. I know some adults who just have never been able to communicate in any understandable way. I can’t imagine how frustrating that must be!

This past week, she has been saying, “Some mik” or “Zhoos” when she wants a milk or juice. I always ask, “What do you want?” And then after a brief pause, answering for her. (Last thing I want is to ever make her feel pressured to do something she cannot do, or force her to try do something her brain stops her from doing. Thinking of the adults who said they want to talk but the words become stuck as if behind a wall, and the mouth won’t produce what the brain is thinking.)

But today. Just now… She did it. She took my hand, led me to the fridge. I asked her, “What do you want?”

And for the first time ever, she answered verbally! I am teary just typing it! She said, “Ice lolly!”

I’m so so excited and so, happy!

I know it’s very inconsistent. I know it’s rare. But… It’s possible! And today was the day!