MadeUpMilestones: 'Bye Bye' with @kaiden_laverty

We have finally been able to enjoy some good weather - and there's more good news!  It's also time for this month's #madeupmilestones series when we celebrate the achievements special to us and our kids.  This month it's Kaiden and a lovely step for his son, Joshua when leaving nursery.

1. Who has achieved their ‘madeupmilestone, tell us a bit about them?

My son, Joshua, is 2.5 years old and has (suspected) autism. A part of this is he struggles with his speech and communication, and he used to be mute in front of anyone other than me and his other Dad.

2. When and where did the #madeupmilestone happen?

Joshua used to hardly speak and when he did, it wasn’t often that we understood him as he struggles to pronounce words. Joshua would get incredibly frustrated and he would often be reduced to tears because he was trying so hard to communicate, but he just didn't understand him.

3. The fab part… what happened?

When Joshua started at nursery at a year old, he was mute around everyone who wasn’t his parents. He would only communicate to other people by pointing to things and occasionally making noises and sounds. Gradually, he started saying “bye-bye” to his Nana’s, uncle and other family members, as well as when I picked him up at nursery. He wouldn’t say a single word at nursery all day, until I picked him up and he would then say (prompted by me) “bye-bye” to them and wave.

Joshua will now say “bye-bye” and give people kisses, unprompted, when we are leaving anywhere. Not only that, but at two years old Joshua started talking a lot more around others and now tries to engage in conversations with those he trusts and feels comfortable around most.

Joshua’s speech is coming along exceptionally well and while others struggle to understand him all the time, he’s getting there. With some encouragement and me spending a lot of time with him to work on his speech, he has started using more and more words. At one point he was learning a few new words a week. Sometimes I'm still the only one who can understand what he's saying, but I'm finally able to talk with him and he can now communicate what he wants/feels. Whether it's something to eat, drink, watch on TV or do, he's able to tell me in his own way.

You can read more about Kaiden and his boy on their blog The Habitual Blogger, and connect with their on facebook, twitter, youtube and instagram.

This post uses a stock image

---

This guest post is part of my #madeupmilestones guest blogging series. This is a monthly series celebrating the achievements of our kids that are special to us and them. 

 If you'd like to share some #madeupmilestones with us and our readers, please get in touch with me or send me the answers to the questions like this example.