Meet my daughter, who is now 12. At just 16 months old, she began early intervention therapy. The professionals noted her struggles with frustration and communication, indicating a lack of eye contact and delayed play development. They tentatively labeled her as “Possibly on the Spectrum,” but there were no definitive conclusions yet.
By age 2, she was engaged in both occupational and physical therapy due to challenges with motor planning, and her speech therapy sessions doubled to two per week. The term “Apraxia” was thrown around, yet the experts felt it didn’t fully capture her situation.
When she turned 3 and a half, we consulted a pediatric neurologist, who diagnosed her with “Dyspraxia.” He suggested that with rigorous therapy, she might eventually lead a typical life.
At 4 years old, a different expert told me I was in denial regarding my child’s condition, insisting she was clearly on the autistic spectrum and wishing to label her as “PDD-NOS.” I sought a definitive diagnosis, but given her strong familial bonds, I felt that wasn’t quite right.
Almost reaching 5, we visited an orthopedic surgeon after traditional methods like physical therapy and shoe inserts failed to address her significant toe walking. The surgeon diagnosed her with “Cerebral Palsy,” which made sense, though her MRI results were inconclusive.
We opted for a proactive treatment where her Achilles tendons would be lengthened and then reattached. With a purple cast on one leg and a pink one on the other for seven weeks, she underwent 18 months of physical therapy to relearn proper walking, alongside occupational therapy and speech therapy.
Once my daughter was able to walk flat-footed with balance, she could concentrate on things like making eye contact, engaging in conversations, and expanding her vocabulary. This shift resulted in her being less frustrated and more self-controlled, requiring less sensory input. Gradually, she transitioned out of physical therapy, then occupational therapy, and finally, two years ago, speech therapy.
Today, her labels reflect her accomplishments: honor student, equestrian, best friend, and just last night, an outstanding cello player.
While we’ll never know which diagnoses were truly accurate, I’ve always believed in her limitless potential instead of viewing her through a lens of limitations.
I’m sharing this not just to express my pride (which is immense) but to connect with other parents navigating similar journeys with children facing speech challenges, physical limitations, or simply being unique. I truly empathize with your feelings.
Instead of feeling guilty, let’s celebrate the efforts you make to help your child become the best version of themselves. Your love and acceptance are already making a difference.
I don’t mind labels because they can always be changed or replaced with something new.
If you’re interested in more insights, check out our other blog post about fertility boosters for men or learn about in vitro fertilisation, which is a great resource for understanding pregnancy and home insemination.
Also, don’t forget to explore the home intracervical insemination syringe kit combo for more information on self insemination.
In summary, the journey with labels has shown me that they can evolve, and what truly matters is the progress we make together.
Keyphrase: the journey of labels in parenting
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