Liam's keep interfering.
OK, they also help. He loves his push-mower toy. Until it comes up on the edge of a rug. It doesn't stop or turn over, but it bumps, so he gives up, sits down, and fusses.
His learning to feed himself, as I noted in the last post, is inhibited by his demand that everything work perfectly the first time. (Yes, I do see echoes of myself in this.)
How did I end up with a perfectionist baby? Isn't that kind of like having a dog that's an intellectual snob? And of course a Down syndrome child with perfectionism is an even greater stretch.
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If only we could reverse Charles's and Liam's birth order! Because Charles acts like you'd expect a little brother to act: he watches Liam and thinks, I'm going to do that. Thus we end up with Charles wanting to eat Cheerios just like Liam, wanting to play at the music table just like Liam, and (I think) wanting to crawl just like Liam. (And Liam acts just like you'd expect an older brother to act: turning away as if Charles is beneath his notice. After taking whatever toy he's playing with.)
So Charles's emotions motivate him, and Liam's inhibit him. If Liam were the younger brother, his admiration would lead him to do more, I think.
And (per our book on Gross Motor Skills for Down Syndrome Children), Liam is a watcher, not a doer -- meaning he needs to watch and make sure something's safe, rather than diving in. That is, he's like me and Marisa.
OK, they also help. He loves his push-mower toy. Until it comes up on the edge of a rug. It doesn't stop or turn over, but it bumps, so he gives up, sits down, and fusses.
His learning to feed himself, as I noted in the last post, is inhibited by his demand that everything work perfectly the first time. (Yes, I do see echoes of myself in this.)
How did I end up with a perfectionist baby? Isn't that kind of like having a dog that's an intellectual snob? And of course a Down syndrome child with perfectionism is an even greater stretch.
If only we could reverse Charles's and Liam's birth order! Because Charles acts like you'd expect a little brother to act: he watches Liam and thinks, I'm going to do that. Thus we end up with Charles wanting to eat Cheerios just like Liam, wanting to play at the music table just like Liam, and (I think) wanting to crawl just like Liam. (And Liam acts just like you'd expect an older brother to act: turning away as if Charles is beneath his notice. After taking whatever toy he's playing with.)So Charles's emotions motivate him, and Liam's inhibit him. If Liam were the younger brother, his admiration would lead him to do more, I think.
And (per our book on Gross Motor Skills for Down Syndrome Children), Liam is a watcher, not a doer -- meaning he needs to watch and make sure something's safe, rather than diving in. That is, he's like me and Marisa.
Ah, well. Their birth order is what it is. (Although eventually their developmental order will change; but here's hoping that time will be delayed by Liam continuing to progress.)
I welcome advice from other parents of disabled children. What's worked? I wonder if the answer might be what I always thought would work for other children -- and adults -- find something you love, and do it. Like Liam here, when we each took an end of a cord and waved it like a jump rope.
So I guess I'd better get that damned rug out of the way so Liam can hit no bumps on the path with his push-mower toy.