The Health Visitor Assessment

It was just last week I was sat here at this very computer and writing a post that was making my blood boil. Its' a post that I put off publishing, you see it was a post docuenting how I let down I felt by my health visitor following on from Leo's 2 and a half year check. It's a post that I have now posted alongside this one.. Because the contrast of feelings that I have felt change within this time frame are something that I never anticipated.

My health visitor turned my opinion of her completely upside down and she re-gained my trust once again, and in this moment right now... I am so thankful to her.

They say everything happens for a reason, and I have to say I am inclined to agree with them. It has been almost a year since I have had any form of contact from my health visitor despite multiple attempts of phoning her, leaving voicemail's in the hope that I could just speak to any member of their team and follow up THEIR concerns for my little man. No one ever returned my calls and not even a whisper was heard from them, until Granny was at the doctors earlier this week and just by chance ran into our health visitor.

Granny told our health visitor the struggles we have faced in the last year, some of which I haven't even posted on this here blog... Nursery reports putting Leo's speech and development 20 months below where he should be. Concerns over his general being in the social environment and hints and nudges that there may be something else underlying. Of course in my heart of hearts I had my own opinion, and I didn't share the same concerns as the nursery, and at this moment in time, the same concerns the health visitor had potentially shared back in January.

It turns out that our health visitor has been off on sick leave for a substantial amount of time, she hasn't been around. That doesn't excuse why another member of the team couldn't have responded to my calls and my messages. But it does explain the radio silence and lack of action that has been on the air waves...

The outcome from this chance meeting with the health visitor (who was now back at work full time) was that she felt awful for the last year. She had been told how let down I felt, basically how I had felt in the post I had written here. She juggled her schedule around and the very next day I spoke to her on the phone. We arranged a meeting for today (Monday 15th December 14) and she arrived at the house ready to make a referral based on everything that I had told her.

I wanted this referral. I really wanted it. I wanted to be put in front of a professional and be provided with answers that I felt were long over due. Was it just a speech delay? Or was it something more? Had I been walking around with my head in the sand all this time? Or was my gut instinct the right one?

 Leo and I had been sat on the sofa in silence before the health visitors arrival, I didn't want him engrossed in the television or tootling around the lounge with his favourite trains, I wanted him to to show his full attention so that the health visitor could get a real idea of his character and personality. The health visitor arrived armed with her suitcase, and a number of the objects and puzzles that I had watched Leo complete on his 2 and a half year assessment.

 I handed the health visitor the latest nursery report, and the report I had been handed by the lady from a local agency who had come in to observe Leo. She thanked me for these forms, and then told me that she wouldn't be looking at them until she had completed her assessment which I thought was a grand idea. 

For a little while she just sat and observed us, listened to Leo and I talking among ourselves and watched Leo as he played a magnetic fishing game. Leo wasn't phased by her presence in the room, and just carried on chatting away with me as he always would, and this pleased me greatly as it meant that she could hear first hand just how much his speech had come along. She could hear that he could hold a conversation.  

The health visitor had brought a copy of the first assessment that she had conducted back in January, and it was decided that we would focus on the parts of the form that she had labelled with a 'Q' for query. 

Leo was still happily playing his fishing game, but was easily persuaded to demonstrate his drawing skills. We found out the array of colourful crayons and asked him to find the red one, after he had done that and produced some beautiful markings we asked him to find a number of different colours in turn, and that's exactly what he did. The health visitor was pleased with his drawing, pen holding and colour knowledge which pleased me in turn.

As the assessment went on our health visitor surprised me. She told me she had absolutely no concerns. No concerns over his speech, she even went on to say that he was a right little chatter box and wasn't even really behind on that front any more. She told me that she wasn't going to be referring him because there was absolutely no need, and that the Pediatrician would laugh at her for putting Leo forward when he was quite obviously developing and happy.

Then she opened up the reports I had handed her, the one from the outside source that had come into nursery read that Leo didn't give eye contact. That he had poor facial expressions and was ultimately very behind. Her response? Well she pretty much said that they must have seen a different child that day, because the little boy she had just witnessed was switched on and alert.

Then she read the nursery report and was astounded at where they were placing Leo in his developments. In some areas they have Leo 20 months behind, and that is on the most recent report that I received this month. I have just accepted this as fact, everything following the 2 and half year check in January I have just accepted. The concerns, the worries, the urgency... It just seemed to be the path we were on and Leo was behind. Until today when the health visitor told me that Leo was perfectly normal. 

The health visitor told me that Leo is not behind at all, he is catching up and is actually operating in the capacity of a 4 and a half to 5 year old. She said that if the nursery are grading these reports as they are then there is something wrong, either Leo isn't as happy at the school as we think he is, he's shy, or the staff need further training. She made me promise that I wouldn't worry, that she is certain that he is just a normal 3 year old boy who is going to excel at school, he's just getting there in his own time.

Hearing all of this, all of this positivity from the lady who had first expressed her concerns 11 months ago was astounding. I was beaming from ear to ear. She was completely agreeing with me on every front, and my instinct had been the right one. I hadn't been walking around with my head stuck in the sand, I had been listening to my intuition, and it was the right one.

I had been so set on getting Leo the referral I didn't once for a second think that the health visitor was going to come in and go against everything that had initially been said, and against the reports of the nursery, and actually see Leo as I see him everyday.

It's been 11 months since Leo's 2 and a half year check, so much has happened in that time frame. He has grown and developed and done so much growing up. Yes I feel like someone on the health visitor team could have provided the courtesy of calling back and picking up our case, but ultimately Leo was fine just like I knew he would be. And in the end our health visitor came through and helped us.

For that I am very grateful.

Speech Therapy

Speech therapy is something that I have been talking about since January, it is an aspect I had never thought that we would need to pursue with Leo in the beginning, but as he has got older and not said as much as his peers it is something we have realised we will need to explore. It all started back in January at Leo's 2 and a half year assessment, and it is here that I feel that we were let down. 9 Months later we have never heard back from our Health Visitor, she never did call us back up for the check up we were promised despite me calling repeatedly, she couldn't even find the time to return my voice mails. I still feel very let down by the system as if she had done her job properly, we would have been well into the system by now, but as it happens we have gone through nursery and managed to avoid our Health Visitor all together which has been a much more tranquil solution, as I am beyond angry with how she has treated us, and how she has just let Leo fall through the net.

I can't fault the nursery at all, they have helped us no end since Leo began with them in January, I have seen such an improvement in him and have absolutely no doubt that he is coming along nicely. I want the speech therapy in place to just give us that extra push and to make sure that my big boy is ready to start school next September. After a rather long wait (at least 20 weeks) we were issued a appointment to see the therapist for an initial assessment. Last Monday I popped along to the nursery for a meeting so that they could observe Leo and make a start with spurring Leo on. We met in the office and Leo was allowed to play with puzzle pieces on the table, he was presented with two different images and asked which one he would like, it was here they wanted him to use his words and tell them. Of course Leo did this no problem and they were happy with what they were hearing. In the half hour that we were in the office they heard him putting sentences together and really giving it a go. I came away feeling positive after this appointment, and for the first time I didn't feel like strangers were passing judgement on why Leo's speech is delayed. When I walked out of the 2 and a half year check I felt awful, I felt judged and that I was failing as a parent. No one deserves to feel like that, these people are here to help us achieve the best for our children, and that is all I want for Leo. I want him to be absolutely everything he can be, and I want to do my best to put him in the best stead to achieve his dreams. That's all any parent wants right? 

I know having spoken with Luke about the speech therapy that he was worried that Leo would fall behind, that he may be bullied and he may take a while to catch up, but strangely I haven't felt worried. Maybe I should feel worried? But I don't. I know that there is nothing wrong with Leo, I know that he is putting more and more together with every day that passes, it was just Saturday that he told me 'My feet are tired', 'I want to go on a train', 'I want to see the fish', I don't want to go to bed', and it was just last night he was singing 'I'm all about that bass, no trouble' to me, and it was just today that he was copying everything that I said and falling about in raptures giggling. Yes his speech has been delayed, and sometimes he speaks before he thinks and his words come out in an order that doesn't seem completely logical at times, but he is getting there. He will be fine. 

I no longer blame myself, I know it is not my fault and it would have been a relief to be told that back in January. It would have been complete magic to come away with some positive encouragement after that appointment, but I left feeling like I had let Leo down in some way. I am so glad that I shrugged that negativity off and focused on my boy the same way that I always have. I am open to all the help and advice that anyone puts my way, I welcome it with open arms because I only want the best for Leo, I have taken him to groups, special need groups along with everything else that we have always done. We read books, he absolutely loves his books, we play games and we head out into the world. Children progress at different times and rates, and I am so positive about the development I see each day, I am glad that we have been given the speech therapy that will spur my little guy on further, and although I shouldn't say it... I am secretly giving that snarky health visitor the finger. 

The One Where We Go For An Eye Test

Back in January I told you all about Leo’s Two and half year check. It was an experience that I really didn't enjoy and came away feeling incredibly rubbish about. Our health visitor turned the entire appointment into a complete song and dance, she insisted on seeing Leo two months later so that she could follow up and check on his progress.

During the appointment she decided that Leo had a squint and was going to be booking a separate appointment for him, that would come through a few weeks later. She wanted to get Leo seen as soon as possible so that treatment could commence if needed, she didn't want him waiting around if he did have one. We got to the end of March and I still had not received the promised appointment through and there had been complete radio silence from our health visitor.

I tried to call her myself on numerous occasions and finally left her a voice mail asking her to give me a call back. I wanted to discuss Leo and get the follow up that she had advised, and also get Leo’s appointment for his eye sorted just to air on the side of caution.

I never did get a call back from our health visitor, and this has gone on to annoy me further. However the date I left the voice mail obviously spurred her into finally booking Leo’s eye exam, even though she still didn't call me back. A week later I received a letter from the surgery with a date to take Leo in, and ironically the letter was dated 27^th March 2014, the day I called and left the message.

I can’t help feeling really let down by our health visitor, what if Leo had actually had a squint? What if she had prolonged the necessary treatment? What if Leo had been a child who had other problems? What if he was being abused? Would she still have been so slack?

On Wednesday 23^rd March I took Leo along to have his eyes examined. We walked into the room and Leo instantly spied a Thomas train. We took our seats and the lady we were visiting got Leo to co-operate with her tests. She shone a little light in his eyes and got him to follow it with his eyes. She used toys to get his attention and was really fantastic with him.

The doctor asked me what I thought, and I personally knew that Leo did not have a squint, but not being a professional I wanted to make sure that my gut feeling was right. My thoughts were confirmed seconds later and she agreed that Leo’s eyes were perfectly fine.

The appointment lasted no longer than 10 minutes, we were in and out. Leo had been fantastic and I was really pleased with the doctor that we had seen.

The health visitor still hasn't followed up with us, she hasn't contacted us to arrange for Leo to come in as promised. The appointment that she wanted to schedule with us was for Leo to come back in and repeat his check-up. Then if she still wasn't happy, she was going to refer Leo for speech therapy. Since January Leo has come on in leaps and bounds, and I want her to see this. I do think he would benefit from speech therapy, and I want her to pull her finger out and do what she promised.

The health visitor has booked us in for a hearing test on Wednesday 7^th May, this is something I personally asked for during the check up in January. I wanted to rule out Glue Ear and make sure he was hearing everything as he should. The health visitor told me that this would happen if he was referred, and that it wouldn't be happening now. But all of a sudden we have an appointment through… I am pleased just to get it checked and ticked off, as Leo can quite obviously hear everything but it’s just nice to confirm.

As for our health visitor, I have lost a lot of faith in her. She hasn't followed through with her promises, she hasn't communicated with us and she hasn't been efficient. From now on I will be doing everything through nursery. They will be doing their own check with him in the next few months. I feel they are in a better position to tell me what he will benefit from as they know him and see him in a setting he is familiar and comfortable in.

We will be getting Leo’s hearing checked and my gut instinct is telling me that he will fly through it. My personal opinion is that Leo has just been slower in talking than other kids his age, and as expected, he is getting there in his own time.

31 Months Old

In the last couple of weeks I have seen such a change in you. It seems that since your 2 and a half year check you have been doing everything in your power to show that health visitor just how wrong she is. I am noticing changes in you all over the place and each milestone you reach just has me beaming from ear to ear.

You are using so many more words, and attempting more words all the time. You are listening intently to the conversations that are going on around you and of course sticking your two penny worth in whenever you feel like it. In the weeks since you started nursery you have decided that you want to help me in the kitchen, usually if I am preparing a fruit snack for you. I hear your little voice chirp up ‘I help yes! Help yes!’ then I hear the opening of the cutlery draw and the dragging of the chair you are pulling over to the work surface. You always look so pleased with yourself when you are perched on the chair with the butter knife you have craftily sniped from the draw.

You are using multiple words and forming simple sentences…

‘I get it’

‘I do it’

‘It was me’

‘No I didn’t’

‘Yes I did’

'I want, yes'

At bedtime when I tuck you in at night you know say ‘Love you Mumma’ 'Love you more' or ‘Love you’. You tell me ‘night night’ and ‘sweet dreams’. You know that I will say all of these things before leaving your room at night and shutting the door behind me, but before I go you always remind about the baby monitor ‘baby monitor on’.

You are even making changes to how you refer to people, you have always called Mummy and Daddy ‘Mumma’ and ‘Dadda’. Now since our trip to London a few weeks ago, you have started calling Daddy ‘Daddy!’. Mummy is still Mumma for now! You have always signified animals by what they are, such as cat and dog. Poor old Tigger was always known as ‘Caaaaaaaaat!’ which you would shout at the very top of your voice. Now though you are noticing that animals have names, and while playing with Nanny’s dog Pixie that is exactly what you were calling her. When Millie decided to get involved you said ‘NO!’ ‘Pixie!’ instead of reffering to them as ‘woof woofs!’.

You are becoming more interested in colours and naming them. So far Red, Blue and Green are the colours that you recognise the most. You are now even saying the names of the colours and can point them out (when you are in the right mood of course!).

I have been trying to teach you the differences between girls and boys. You understand that you have a ‘willy’ and that you are a boy. But all of a sudden you are adamant that you are big girl! We were out and about in the car, sat still in a traffic jam when this conversation began… I asked you if you were a boy or a girl and you said ‘Boy!’ I then went on to ask you ‘Is Mummy a boy or a girl?’ and you answered very correctly ‘Girl!’. We moved on to whether Uncle Chris was a boy or a girl… and it was here you started to de-rail slightly. You are adamant that Uncle Chris is a girl, and ever since this conversation you have told me ‘ I a big girl!’.

We will remember this over the years Mr Leo!

You are still in love with Thomas the Tank Engine… Much to my horror! You play so nicely with your push along Thomas and Percy trains and can name them both by name. You are listening to the words that each engine says and even copying what you hear. I am sure I heard you say ‘Buff my buffers’ just the other day!

I had to giggle at you the other day, when due to the persistent rain I ended up taking you to soft play twice in two days. We treated ourselves to lunch and un-be known to me the restaurant have placed a big fancy cake stand right amongst where we were sitting. Had I seen this… I never would have sat you down there. Of course you saw it straight away and exclaimed ‘found you cake!’ at the top of your lungs. Getting you to eat your dinner after this discovery was one of the hardest things I have done of late!

It may surprise you… But to get you to eat your dinner I had to tell you off a few times. It was around this point I discovered something new about you. Now when I tell you off and you know I mean business… You tell me that you ‘hurt’. You will present me with a finger or hold your head, sometimes even your ear, all the time telling me that your hurt. I quickly cottoned on to this ploy and ignored it. Funnily enough any pain you were feeling disappeared as soon as I stopped telling you no!

It just amazes me how far you have come in just over a month. You have been more affectionate to Granny which I know is pleasing her immensely, especially in comparison to how you used to be when she tried to give you a big kiss! Your words and your communication is coming on all the time. You may still not be chatting full sentences like some of the other kids your age, but you are getting there. Just like I knew you would.

What I am really pleased with is how well you have adapted to life without blanket and your milk bottle during the day. You understand that these two items are specifically for nap times and bed time, and you have simply taken it in your stride. I really did expect you to make a huge fuss about wanting these items throughout the day, but you have just switched your milk in take for juice instead. Which you are now pretty much drinking out of a big boy cup throughout the day.

31 months old and growing up so quickly. Before we know it you will be turning 3. 

Now that is a scary thought.

30 Months Old

You turned 30 months old on the 27^th December 2013, and in this month alone it saw you go through so many transitions. Life seemed to speed up that little bit more, if that is even possible? and you continued to blossom right before my eyes.

At 2 and a half years old you were modelling the world in your own special way, and your world was growing all of the time. You spent Christmas with everyone who loves you and for the first time, joined in with gift opening and the magic of the whole day.

The NewYear saw you starting nursery and being thrown into a whole new ball game. You were so excited at the prospect of attending big boy school and we all knew that we were going to start seeing a really big change in you over the coming months.

Your first session went really well and if you had it your way I think you would love to go more than just once a week. Waking up this morning I told you it was time to go to Granny’s and your reply was simple and precise ‘No! School!’.

You were saying more to me all the time, and despite everything that had been said atyour 2 and a half year check. I could see you coming along at your own pace. You were learning new words and starting to put more together. Your understanding has always been impeccable but as you continued to learn, it was all coming on in leaps and bounds.

It was in January that we decided to take the side on your cot down and turn it into the cot bed. The first 3 nights you slept in it as though there had been no change at all, but on the fourth night you took your first tumble (and so far only tumble) out of your big boy bed. I heard the bang and then your cries of ‘Mumma! Bed!’ and ran in to pick you up, and of course tuck you back in again.

I was so impressed with how you handled the change to your sleeping arrangements, and we only decided that now was time to make the switch because you were suddenly trying to climb out of your cot. I worried that you may fall and hurt yourself, so the decision was made to say goodbye to your cot sleeping days.

You have been so pleased with yourself over your climbing escapades, and you giggle whenever we talk about you cheekily climbing out of the travel cot at Granny’s house. In fact you beam with pride!

Having you sleeping in a bed these days instead of the cot that you have always been in is strange. Although I have known for the longest time that you are not a baby any more, making this transition has made you seem even more grown up.

You have taken to your bed so well and once I put you to bed that is where you stay. It was only on that very first night that you got up and out of bed once, now you only get out in the morning, and even then it is very rarely. You would much rather me come in and get you for a cuddle.

I feel very privileged to have such a well behaved little man, granted you have your moments but for the most part you are such a star. I did wonder if you would play up when we finally moved you into a bed, but you have been absolutely amazing. I can simply tuck you in at night and know that you will go off to sleep. You wont turn into a little monster and get up to play in your room or even attempt to run around the house. You know that when you go to bed, you go to sleep.

I guess it is the fact you are now sleeping in a bed and starting nursery that makes me really question where my baby has gone. They are 2 really big milestones within a very short space of time…But I can’t help thinking how you are more than ready for a new challenge.

We began to give you more freedom and in a sense more responsibility. I guess you could even say we were more trusting? Instead of your beaker we were giving you your big boy juice in a cup with no lid. You were doing so well with it and had very few spillages, and you just enjoyed being like Mummy and Daddy. You would now ask for your ‘big boy juice’ over anything else…Even over a bottle of milk!

This was another big transition that we began to introduce to you. Milk and blanket had been removed from the day to day routine and were now more or less for bedtimes and naptimes only. You asked for them both on occasion but I told you that if you wanted them, you would have to go for your naptime in bed. Cheekily you went upstairs telling me you wanted to go to bed.. Only to drink your milk and come back down stairs again! But I figured that you were still gaining an understanding of when you could have your two favourite items.

We were even venturing out without your blanket AND without your milk bottle! I was really pleased with how well you were taking this change as I expected more resistance when the time came. We were taking it day by day just to see what tomorrow might bring, but so far we were doing really well.

You were now even beginning to show an interest in your potty. For the longest time you have point blank refused to have anything to do with it. We have left you to it as we didn’t want to force you into anything that you simply were not ready for. All of a sudden one night you just sat on it. I don’t know what changed for you? But something must have as you even sat on it the right way around! Right now there has been no potty action in terms of any pee’s or poo’s… But we are getting there and I know that when you are ready they will happen.

Right now we are just so pleased with everything else you are doing, the rest will come in time.

You have achieved so much in the last month.

My little but grown up gorgeous boy.

I wonder what the next month will hold for you?

Only time will tell…

Leo's Off to Nursury

Leo always has been an independent little guy,

Pursuing everything in his own time and always reaching 

the milestone when he is ready.

Since Leo’s 2 and a half year check I have been looking into options and ways that I can socialise him a little bit more. One of the ideas that we discussed with the health visitor was the possibility of sending Leo to nursery. I liked the idea of this as nursery is an environment that would be completely new to Leo, lots of children, teachers and somewhere that Mummy wouldn’t be following him. A scenario that see’s Leo being even more independent than ever before, having to make himself understood to a wider audience…and not just Mummy.

Last Thursday I took one very excited Leo to view the nursery that we were considering. The short car ride to the village school that I used to attend as a child saw Leo’s excitement building. He was throwing his hands above his head and shouting ‘School! Yeah!’ as we went, and I couldn’t help but smile at just how excited Leo was about it all.

Pulling up into the car park Leo was eager to get out, he even insisted on wearing his Thomas ruck sack. He knows that big kids take a bag with them to school so he wanted to be just like them.

Putting Leo’s empty ruck sack onto his back, he held my hand as we walked into the school. We signed in and were escorted around the school that was still so very familiar to me. The nursery is situated in the very heart of the school on the field, right by the playground that all of the big kids play in. Being so integrated with the school (the school that Leo will one day attend) they get so much space to use.

On the front of the nursery is a board with all of the children’s names on, in the morning when the children arrive they have to pick their names (or if they can’t read find their sticker on their name) and take it inside to put on their coat hook, where they will then hang all of their belongings. We were lead into the nursery and that is when Leo simply let go of my hand and went straight off to play. No hesitation what so ever, he just let go and walked off to play. As I was talking with the nursery teacher, he hung his head out of the play kitchen window waving and shouting ‘Mumma!’.

With Leo playing so contently it gave me a great opportunity to hear all about the things Leo would be getting up to if he did get a place at this nursery. We both already loved it so I was really hoping that a space would come up sooner rather than later.

Inside the nursery there is a arts and craft section that has everything you could possibly imagine! It is open to the children throughout the day for them to go in and create whatever their heart desires! There’s a playhouse full of everything Leo loves and I know that he will be making everyone countless imaginary cups of tea! There’s a book corner and a quiet corner and oh so many toys.

Outside they have a mud kitchen where they can create endless muddy delights, of course this requires full forest school gear! There’s a play house, balance bikes and so much more.

The staff structure the day and keep note of everything that the children do. Leo will have a folder that holds all of his milestones and achievements with photos of him achieving them. It will allow me to see exactly what he gets up to while he is at nursery and to also keep for him when he is older.

What I was really impressed with was that the nursery are now required to carry out their own 2 and a half year check assessment. This will be done before Leo turns 3, and in an environment that is much better suited to making these observations. They will be able to see first-hand how Leo socialises and conducts himself, and I feel so much better knowing that they will KNOW him and exactly what he is and isn’t capable of.

Leo absolutely loved his visit to nursery, and he was instantly at ease and playing happily. It was getting him to leave and come home with me that was the issue! He really did not want to come back home with me at all, he was absolutely loving the nursery.

Thankfully a little later on Thursday afternoon… I got a call to say that Leo had a place at nursery and he can start as early as next Monday! So now I simply need to pop back in this week and get him all registered ready to start next Monday.

Leo will be going once a week for the morning session and from September I will be looking to put him in for longer.

I know that I am going to start to see a real change in him, and I know that he is going to absolutely love being such a big boy.

Feelings Following the 2 & A Half Year Check

In the days following Leo’s 2 and a half year check I have found I can think of nothing else. When I am closing my eyes trying to fall asleep I replay snippets from the appointment, and I try and think of ways in which I can try and get Leo’s speech up to scratch.

I always knew that Leo wasn't talking as much as other children his age, but I tried not to read into it as I know that children develop in different ways at different times. Leo has always been a ‘doer’ and that is as true today as it always has been, and I know that the speech will come along in all its glory once he’s ready. But that doesn’t mean for one second that he isn’t talking and getting involved in conversations. Because he IS! He is copying what I say more and more these days and he is taking everything in.

I think ultimately I do feel frustrated by how the appointment went. I feel frustrated because I know that Leo is capable than so much more than she saw. Leo is stubborn and will not perform, that is just not who he is.

So while I do feel that Leo will benefit from some extra support with his speech, I don’t feel she weighed him up correctly on the day. There are a number of factors as to why Leo didn’t play ball, and I am sure that could be said for many other children.

I have taken options away from the check-up, one of the suggestions was getting Leo into nursery for a few hours a week. So this Friday we are visiting our nursery of choice and getting him booked in for a Wednesday afternoon session so that he can socialise with other children his age. I am hoping from this experience he will find the confidence and words he needs to communicate with them. Nursery is something that I was originally holding off on until he was 3, but I think he is ready. I am hoping it will really spur him on.

One thing that I am guilty of since returning to work is not going along to toddler groups. When I was on maternity leave we were very active in groups, we went along to baby massage, baby sign and sign and a number of other groups… But when I returned to work full time in July 2012 it all came to a stop. I had no time for groups working Monday to Friday and although we saw friends with children, it wasn’t always guaranteed to be a weekly occurrence. So now I am going to be taking Leo along to groups that run on either a Thursday or Friday so that we can put ourselves out there and for Leo to carry on socialising.

I admittedly have mixed feelings about what was said at the appointment, but all I want is to get my bright, beautiful little man using those words of his. I want to fill his mind full of lessons that will help him going forward. I want him to have a good time and grow from his experiences.

I have been looking online at ways in which I can help Leo further, but if you have any personal advice on helping late talkers talk I would love to hear your thoughts on what else I can be doing?

The Two & A Half Year Check

Today was your two and a half year check up. We arrived in time for our 9:30am appointment and you were in high spirits, smiling in all the right places and being your happy self. I had every reason to believe that we would be in and out, but 2 hours later we were still sat in the health visitors office...

The office had been set up especially for you, it had a red table and chair at just the right height for you. You needed no prompting and sat down confidently and began to inspect the jigsaw puzzle that had been placed on the table for you. There were 3 different shaped fish that needed sorting into the correct places, and you sat there and popped them in as simply as that. You told the health visitor that they were 'fish' and moved onto the next task.

You built a tower of bricks with the tools that were provided to you, and when it got rickety and finally tumbled down you built it up all over again. You placed the beads into the slotted holes provided, and with a little prompting even put them all away again.

Everything was going well until you started to get a little bored... and a little tired. This combination is not the greatest of concoctions and very soon you were just not really in the mood for co-operating.

You started to loose your patience when it came to drawing, even though drawing is a pass time that you usually adore. I guess being in an un-familiar environment and being asked to perform was reason enough for you to not want to play ball. You were drawing your pictures and looking rather pleased of yourself, but you would not draw a circle or copy the line that the health visitor asked of you.

This may be my fault, as although we draw I let you draw what you like, be as creative as you choose, and then we talk about what you have created. I often draw along side you and ask you what you think I have drawn... But drawing circles was not something I thought that would have been asked upon you today. You do draw them, but again... not on demand. The circles you draw come out in your creativity and not when asked to do so. Not yet anyway, and there is so much time for that.

By the time you were asked to match a coloured piece of card with the colour on the sheet beneath, you were far past entertaining. You quite simply just didn't want to play, so you got down from the perch on your table and wandered over to the door. You played with the lock and shouted 'locked' over to me before continuing to fiddle around with it. Of course this then prompted the health visitor to look over at me, and with a slight tilt of her head she asked 'Does he do this often, play with doors?' like all of a sudden it was a concern.

Of course I responded honestly, you have always played with doors. You also play with many other house hold items such as the washing machine and tumble dryer. You always have been naturally inquisitive and certainly sought out things you should other wise leave alone...

Then all of a sudden we were talking about the squint in your right eye that has been brought up on other occasions. I don't know if it is just me... But I have never really noticed this squint they speak of. Daddy says he can see it and has noticed it in the past...But I personally cannot vouch for this. Today they have referred you so we can get this looked at, but after talking to Granny this is something that we have all been probed for and actually.. We didn't have one. We will get it looked at and go from there little man...

Then of course we moved onto the point that I thought would come up, because I knew that your speech would of course come into account. You haven't said as much as other toddlers your age, but being one to not compare you to other children, believing that you will develop in your own time, I admit that I wasn't actually that worried. You say things, you attempt new words and even if you don't get the pronunciation you have still been giving it a go. You have words that you have created for certain things, and I know exactly what you are saying to me. To an outsider they may think that we have both gone bananas, but I understand and repeat the real word back to you. 

You weren't in a very chatty mood so you didn't really say a lot to day at all. You even ignored the health visitor when she asked you to point to your nose, eyes and ears. You could have shown her all of that and more! You could have lifted your shirt and wiggled your belly button under her nose, but you didn't see fit too. 

I do now feel a little worried about your speech, even though really I know you are coming along more all the time. You are getting there in your own time. I will be taking you to some extra supportive groups over the next couple months in the hope I can spur you along that little bit further. I will spend more time drawing circles (train wheels!) and lines (train tracks!) with you. We will get you up to where you should be. 

It never even occurred to me that you could fall behind? You were always reaching your milestones and exceeding them. You rolled over, crawled and walked in a timely fashion, and I always assumed that you would just take everything else in your stride so easily. 

I know that you know so much more than the health visitor saw today, and regardless of what you say, you understand absolutely everything that we say to you. You are absorbing everything and we just need to give you all the time and support that we can. 

And that Leo, is exactly what I intend to do.

We have to go back in 2 months time and repeat the check, and there is the possibility of speech therapy, but to be honest I would rather get you the help you need sooner rather than later.

And... We can do this!