In a week we will move to our new home in “La Miller,” as they call it here (the Linda Miller community, near AFE, in which Jeony and Jessy Ordonez live). We are moving there for several reasons, and one of which is to help Elijah’s social/linguistic development.
Elijah is 18 months old now. He is happy, healthy, and right on track with all of the development milestones, but there are still two things I am slightly concerned about. One, he doesn’t appear to like anyone other than Rey and I (many of you may have noticed this). He grunts at people when they venture near, if they keep coming, he turns away and yells. He has always been especially close to mommy and daddy, and slow to adapt/withdrawing from others, but it seems more extreme now. Rey and I believe the reason is partly due to his temperament, but mostly to our living situation. Elijah is isolated in our home all week (because it’s dangerous to go outside in our neighborhood) until we go to church on Sundays. Things are worse when I attempt to bring him to AFE, he shrieks in terror as the kids approach him.
In the Miller it will be safer for me to take Elijah outside, there are tons of other little children his age, and many young mothers available for me to befriend. We hope that this socialization will iron out Elijah’s shyness and that he will open up his “circle of trust” to more people than simply Rey and I.
Secondly, Elijah does not speak many words, though he understands nearly everything in both Spanish and English. He has his own way of communicating, through leading Rey or I to what he wants, pointing at things and saying “nuh” (his own, made-up word), or shaking his head “no” fervently. But still, at 18 months, the only sensical things he says are “mama,” “dada” and “ball.” I have read that spoken language arrives later in bilingual children, but I am also hoping that our move to the Miller will help Elijah’s to develop more spoken language.
Despite these small concerns, Rey and I are delighted by Elijah’s personality as we see it emerging as the older he gets. He has a great sense of humor, is a very loving, empathetic child, and also extremely active and tough. He is constantly taking risks, physically, and finding new ways to slip by me and do Olympic-style stunts. So, if you are praying for Elijah, please pray for his social/linguistic development and also his continuous safety.
Elijah is 18 months old now. He is happy, healthy, and right on track with all of the development milestones, but there are still two things I am slightly concerned about. One, he doesn’t appear to like anyone other than Rey and I (many of you may have noticed this). He grunts at people when they venture near, if they keep coming, he turns away and yells. He has always been especially close to mommy and daddy, and slow to adapt/withdrawing from others, but it seems more extreme now. Rey and I believe the reason is partly due to his temperament, but mostly to our living situation. Elijah is isolated in our home all week (because it’s dangerous to go outside in our neighborhood) until we go to church on Sundays. Things are worse when I attempt to bring him to AFE, he shrieks in terror as the kids approach him.
In the Miller it will be safer for me to take Elijah outside, there are tons of other little children his age, and many young mothers available for me to befriend. We hope that this socialization will iron out Elijah’s shyness and that he will open up his “circle of trust” to more people than simply Rey and I.
Secondly, Elijah does not speak many words, though he understands nearly everything in both Spanish and English. He has his own way of communicating, through leading Rey or I to what he wants, pointing at things and saying “nuh” (his own, made-up word), or shaking his head “no” fervently. But still, at 18 months, the only sensical things he says are “mama,” “dada” and “ball.” I have read that spoken language arrives later in bilingual children, but I am also hoping that our move to the Miller will help Elijah’s to develop more spoken language.
Despite these small concerns, Rey and I are delighted by Elijah’s personality as we see it emerging as the older he gets. He has a great sense of humor, is a very loving, empathetic child, and also extremely active and tough. He is constantly taking risks, physically, and finding new ways to slip by me and do Olympic-style stunts. So, if you are praying for Elijah, please pray for his social/linguistic development and also his continuous safety.
1 comment:
No worries, let me tell you, all multi-cultural children act and grow differently then say American Children. I know, raised two babies in Switzerland. One didn't speak until he was 3 years. He's processing all the words and sounds in his head and it will all come out sorted, most-likely when he is 4. Additionally, the social thing is soooo different in other countries. My kids had to be re-socialized around other kids even when we moved back in July. I can write a whole bunch to share with you. Anyway, this is Kelly's aunt Maureen in Bellevue. We are still teaching our kids how to approach people, as in another country there was nothing to imitate. Let's talk! I'll pray for you all.
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