Latest Journal Entry
by Joi Chadwick
She can’t speak in full sentences yet. Her conversation is little nuggets of information like “ball” or “Wan’ go!” or “juuuice.” These are complemented by pointing, smiles, whines, screams, and various gestures and body language. Sometimes she seems to be requesting something. I ask “What do you want?” and she just nods her head up and down. I forget that she probably hasn’t collected the words yet to express what it is she wants that way. So I say “You have to tell me what you want.” The head nods again. She’s new to talking, but she’s so brilliant I lose track of the fact she can’t engage in dialogue the same ways I might. Of course there are conversation obstacles. We’re human. Even if she weren’t 27 years younger than I am that would be true. And perhaps because we have an age gap of nearly three decades, my nearly 2-year old niece and I try harder to find the space where we can communicate effectively with each other. It’s not a conscious decision, but an instinctive one. She’s curious about the world and gathers words and tools every day to help her respond to it and share her living. She wants to share and understand. So she tries. I want to help her and share and understand, too. So I try.
She’s new to talking, but she’s so brilliant I lose track of the fact she can’t engage in dialogue the same ways I might.
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