Wednesday 28 December 2011

Is it all working?

So today, just like every other day I sat with my daughter and proceeded to work through the variety of exercises that have been recommended to me by Infant development, and Children's Hospital consultants. Currently our focus is crawling. Exercises are mostly focused on trying to get Sophia motivated to crawl, or at this point, simply motivated to want to stay on her tummy. Not that I had ever considered it before, but crawling is almost completely visually driven. By using toys that light up, or make noise, I attempt to encourage that drive to crawl. Today I'm feeling particularly discouraged and I don't know why. Sitting was another milestone that was delayed with Sophia as balancing was a particularly difficult task for someone who can't see well, but I'm happy to say that she worked through it, and although delayed, is now sitting just fine. I know that crawling is also JUST delayed, and that it is something that WILL happen, but lately I'm left wondering if all these exercises are doing anything.  I start to wonder if she is more frustrated, than encouraged. I feel selfish that I want her to crawl so bad, am I pushing her to do things because I want her too? I know that she will be behind other children, but I feel like I'm having a hard time coming to terms with that. I can't seem to shake the feeling lately that I'm failing at parenthood, and is this simply because I see how advanced other babies are and then I look at my baby and feel like I'm not doing enough for her? How selfish does that make me sound? Maybe all parents feel like they are failing, but maybe seeing their children reach those milestones on time, helps them  to realize that they are doing the best they can. I'd like to say that I don't still feel like what's going on with her is my fault, and yes I know how foolish that is. I know she will reach all the same milestones as other children, and I will look back at these months in 5 years and realize how needless my worrying actually is, but I feel guilty that she's not where she should be. I feel like I should be doing more for her. I wonder; are these exercises working? Am I  perhaps doing the wrong exercises? Could I be doing something better? Everyone tells me how important the first 3 years are developmentally for visually impaired children; I wonder if this is fuelling my anxiety. I feel so much pressure to work with her now, so much pressure to do everything possible to help her develop; be the best that she can be, during a time when it is so vital. When she's not reaching that next milestone, I feel like it's my fault somehow? 

Like I said today I'm just feeling discouraged, but maybe tomorrow that will disappear....

1 comment:

  1. i know i don't see you guys as often as i should, but i have to say - everytime i see sophia, i'm blown away by how much bigger she is and how much more she's mastered in the short time since i've seen her last. you're a fabulous mom and that kid's damn lucky to have you and graham.

    ps - love the blog; keep it up!!

    ~dev

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