Until this morning, I was in a fog of denial.
My boy is fine. He is simply quiet. He doesn't have anything to say. He doesn't want to talk. He is just stubborn.
No. No to all of it.
My son, my quiet little guy, is apraxic.
And this, this, is why he is aggressive at times. Why he throws himself to the floor. Why he bangs his head. And why only I can understand his wants/needs.
His language skills are at a 12-15 month level. He comprehends all, but cannot communicate beyond gestures and a few words.
And yes, we are getting him help. And yes, I have faith.
But this is my BABY.
And some kids recover. And some kids don't. Some kids never become great communicators.
And what if?
What if he cannot be understood? What if he is made fun of?
Why can't I take this from him?
Its neurological. And there is no definitive reason why it happens.
Was it the birth? Was it the vaccinations? Was it a fall?
Did I do this to my boy?
Did I do this???
I am utterly lost.
I drove him away from that appointment today, and watched him in the mirror. He looked out the window, pointing to trucks and cars. His mouth opened, emitting sounds I knew and understood. And I cried.
What if I am the only one who ever understands him?
And have I handicapped him? In trying to honor his quiet spirit and not "force" him to talk, did I hobble him? By letting him be, letting him play alone and in his own world, did I make this worse?
The speech pathologist words echoed in my head- "Sometimes people think they just have a quiet baby. And sometimes it is more than that."
I've sat with him in silence since he was a newborn. As somebody who enjoys silence myself, I thought I recognized in him a kindred spirit.
He took everything in. He watched.
"Still waters run deep." I told myself.
I was wrong.
Today as I drove and as I cried, God spoke.
"I created him."
And as I protested "Yes, but God..."
"I CREATED HIM."
And it sunk in. God has made Sam just as He intended. Nothing about him is flawed. No part of him is a mistake.
My soul knows this.
But for today, I will allow my mother's heart to cry for my sweet silent boy.
And pray for the floodgates to open, for the words to come...if that is God's will.
And if it is not, and if it is His will that silence reign over my son...
I will stand between Sam and the world. I will relay his gestures and words. I will interpret his needs.
And I will love him just as God made him.
