Pervasive Developmental Delay in Real Life

When I worked at American Baby, we loved and relied on the month-by-month What to Expect books. What to Expect the Toddler Years puts this behavior in Month 29. Of course they clarify that every child develops differently, and 29 months is likely on the early side of when a typical child would say "I want to do it myself!" in reference to something like putting on his own shirt or pants.

29 months is not-quite-3.

My son finally said it for the first time at not-quite-7. (He turned 7 a week ago today.)

What matters most to me is that he said and felt it.

But it's hard to function in society as a mom and as a young kid when you're that far off from where everyone else is.

It's not so much that he's behind, per se, as that he's somewhere so different than where the others are.

His peers were still into Barney when he was into The Magic School Bus. That's a mental issue and is seen as advanced, not delayed.

But this is an emotional issue, and he's seen as lagging behind.

I can't tell you how thrilled I was to hear, "I want to do it myself!"

You may have even heard my sigh of relief. It's been a long haul.

And fortunately, DuckyBoy's little girlfriends love him for where he's at!