More Milestones

Tonight, Wendy did two new things.

She saw the cat go out of the window, so she went to the window, pulled it down and closed it, then looked around at us and said "shut".

She got hold of my Vicks inhaler, which is about the same shape and size as a lipstick. We all saw her repeatedly removing the inner tube, smelling it and putting the inner tube back into the outer tube and screw it closed. This fine motor skill would be expected in a child of two and a half or three. She is only 16 months old.

Her co-ordination is excellent. Mine wasn't and neither were my daughters. Wendy is a very bright little button. She can watch something once and then do it herself.
Several of our family members are intellectually gifted and we suspect that Wendy is too. That is a bit worrying because the family she mixes with are all of average intelligence and we do not know how to meet the developmental needs of a gifted child. The school system is not equipped to deal with them although they have "Special Needs" too. Children with lower IQs, or dyslexia or autism or some such have provision in the education system. But there aren't many resources for children who are very bright.

Caelyn is dyslexic and had concentration problems after a head injury and needed a small quiet class and she flourished in a wonderful school in Margate, Laleham. They were astoundingly wonderful there and Caelyn was very happy there. She had suffered in mainstream and instead of looking for what was "wrong" with her, Laleham looked for what was "right" with her. She passed mainstream exams well there, which would not have happened in a mainstream school but the greatest thing about Laleham was that they made her KNOW that she was OK and to enjoy being herself. She went in feeling worthless and came out feeling whole. What an extraordinary gift. They gave me my daughter back and if I ever come into money, Laleham will be the first on the list for a big donation.

Wendy is exhausting to look after because she is very active, very inquisitive and into everything. She needs constant supervision. She is also a very happy little soul who is gentle and who likes making people laugh. She is such a sweetie and she is very caring of our pets too. She likes taking the dog his toys and feeding the cats. she strokes them, buries her face in their fur and kisses them.

She has a blythe and beautiful spirit.