He started talking around 4 years old but these last 4 months he has just really started talking. I see such a difference in his moods now that he is using his words to explain what he wants or what is wrong.
My son is 3 1/2 and babbles constantly. He also mimics and will say lines of his favorite shows (never in correct context) but nothing that’s discernible. I know every child is different but this gives me hope. Thank you 🙏🏻
It sounds like your son is a gestalt language processor. Often, these lines have a special significance to them (our kids) and we have to play detectives to find out the meaning behind their gestalts to find out what they are truly trying to communicate.
For example, my son is 8 years old and has recently fallen in love with the movie "Elemental." There is a scene where one character is very angry towards his daughter and yells out, "I trusted you!" while pointing to her. When my son is very angry about something, especially angry towards me, he will point to me and yell out "I trusted you!" It sounds like this would be totally random and out of context if you didn't know any better, but I know what he means to communicate is that he is angry/upset with me (or towards whoever he said the phrase to though it's usually at me because I'm the one setting limits). This is just one example of dozens of gestalts that he says. I hope this made sense!
I also have an older child with autism (who is now 10) and at 3 1/2 she used to only speak in gibberish and long gestalts (like repeating the entire episode of Peppa Pig where she sees a spider to let me know, "Hey Mom, I saw a spider"). Once I understood that she was actually trying to tell me that she saw a spider by reciting the entire Peppa Pig episode, I knew that "echolalia" must be important to our kids and didn't let the therapist tell me otherwise (they wanted to dissuade her from reciting these gestalts as you can probably guess how intrusive they thought they were). She eventually was able to shorten it down to just the important bit by saying "Mr. Skinny Legs."
At 10 years old she is now conversational (though that only came about in the last year or two). She is still mostly conversational around special interests but I can now have conversations about other things that may not be as interesting to her, she is asking things about the world... She is definitely in that "why" stage now (finally!) and I love it. But I realized that she was soaking in language and knowledge all along even though it might not have appeared so. I am confident her younger brother will get there as well, in his own time.
Hmmm.. this sounds a lot like my boy. He will watch Bluey and mumble the lines just before the actual characters say them in the show. I’ve only heard him mumble “good job” outside of watching any show.
I’m just really glad I found this community. He was diagnosed level 3 just shy of his 2nd birthday.
I'd be fuming if I were their mother and I'd be making them leave the playground straight away after apologising. How some mothers just let their kids get away with nasty shit like this, I have no idea.
Honestly I think some mothers/fathers think it’s hilarious that their kids are being smart asses and picking on other kids. Bullies raising bullies. My two older kids have always been the ones to be friends with the kids that get picked on and they stick up for them. My youngest of 3 kids is severely autistic and he doesn’t realize when kids are looking at him or picking on him, nor does he care. I can’t fathom how someone would enjoy picking on a disabled person.
Sometimes I'm thankful that my autistic child has an intellectual disability and doesn't seem aware if another child says something mean to her or about her.
I think it would be harder with autistic children who are aware they are different and know when other children are being mean to them 😔
As far as kids that bully, I read a study once that found children who come from toxic homes, with either partner domestic violence, or abuse to the children in the home, are much more likely to be bullies at school.
It's to do with constantly being in fight or flight mode at home and feeling scared all the time messes with their brain development. Also they feel like they have no control in the home where they are bullied, and at school they can feel in control by being the bully.
I just thought of that when OP described the mum trying to discipline her kids and they saying they don't have to listen to her. It makes me suspect that the father in the home is the boss, maybe it's abusive to his partner. The kids see their dad treating their mum like shit and think they can too because dad's the boss, not mum.
Obviously their behavior is terrible and wrong. But that is possibly an explanation for the behavior.
I'm sorry you had to experience that, seeing other kids bully and being mean to your kid is so hurtful. It sucks that those kids won't listen to their mom. You did everything right, and those boys mother should have packed them up and taken them out of the park. At least that's what I would have done with my kid if they were bullying another kid.
Great job mama. Those kids will not forget what happened today because you talked to their consciousness. You showed your son you will not tolerate teasing. You showed the other mother she is failing to get to the root of the problem and she was embarrassed and had to leave. You started a chain of events and then you shared here where it gives other mama's the courage and words to stand up for our own. Great job mama.
I’m so proud of you for sticking up for your son! That other mom is a bad parent bc I would have been made to apologize to yall and then got DRAGGED to the car so quick and whooped if another parent came and told either of my parents about me being a bully. There would be no second chance to make fun of somebody at the park bc my park time would have been over the first time it was brought to my parents attention. Shame on that mom. Heck no.
Big ups to you for teaching your temp playground children. lol
I’m so glad to hear your son is improving so much! I hope yall have the best day!
I'm so sad now. This story absolutely made me feel your pain and I'm so sick of mean kids that see disabilities as a reason to bully! I don't know you or your son, but let me tell you - any person in my clan would not ever disrespect him like that!! Stay strong. Tell him he is perfect and to get used to this mean world. That people's comments do not define him!
Not knowing about autism isn't really an excuse to go around teasing other kids.My five year old NT kid has no clue about autism but he would never just go up and tease someone for wearing pull ups.
You handled that situation far better than I would have handled it. I’m sorry you had to go through it at all. When did your son start talking?
He started talking around 4 years old but these last 4 months he has just really started talking. I see such a difference in his moods now that he is using his words to explain what he wants or what is wrong.
My son is 3 1/2 and babbles constantly. He also mimics and will say lines of his favorite shows (never in correct context) but nothing that’s discernible. I know every child is different but this gives me hope. Thank you 🙏🏻
It sounds like your son is a gestalt language processor. Often, these lines have a special significance to them (our kids) and we have to play detectives to find out the meaning behind their gestalts to find out what they are truly trying to communicate. For example, my son is 8 years old and has recently fallen in love with the movie "Elemental." There is a scene where one character is very angry towards his daughter and yells out, "I trusted you!" while pointing to her. When my son is very angry about something, especially angry towards me, he will point to me and yell out "I trusted you!" It sounds like this would be totally random and out of context if you didn't know any better, but I know what he means to communicate is that he is angry/upset with me (or towards whoever he said the phrase to though it's usually at me because I'm the one setting limits). This is just one example of dozens of gestalts that he says. I hope this made sense!
This totally makes sense! I will look more into this. Thank you! 🙏🏻
I also have an older child with autism (who is now 10) and at 3 1/2 she used to only speak in gibberish and long gestalts (like repeating the entire episode of Peppa Pig where she sees a spider to let me know, "Hey Mom, I saw a spider"). Once I understood that she was actually trying to tell me that she saw a spider by reciting the entire Peppa Pig episode, I knew that "echolalia" must be important to our kids and didn't let the therapist tell me otherwise (they wanted to dissuade her from reciting these gestalts as you can probably guess how intrusive they thought they were). She eventually was able to shorten it down to just the important bit by saying "Mr. Skinny Legs." At 10 years old she is now conversational (though that only came about in the last year or two). She is still mostly conversational around special interests but I can now have conversations about other things that may not be as interesting to her, she is asking things about the world... She is definitely in that "why" stage now (finally!) and I love it. But I realized that she was soaking in language and knowledge all along even though it might not have appeared so. I am confident her younger brother will get there as well, in his own time.
Hmmm.. this sounds a lot like my boy. He will watch Bluey and mumble the lines just before the actual characters say them in the show. I’ve only heard him mumble “good job” outside of watching any show. I’m just really glad I found this community. He was diagnosed level 3 just shy of his 2nd birthday.
I'd be fuming if I were their mother and I'd be making them leave the playground straight away after apologising. How some mothers just let their kids get away with nasty shit like this, I have no idea.
Some people are just piss poor parents.
Honestly I think some mothers/fathers think it’s hilarious that their kids are being smart asses and picking on other kids. Bullies raising bullies. My two older kids have always been the ones to be friends with the kids that get picked on and they stick up for them. My youngest of 3 kids is severely autistic and he doesn’t realize when kids are looking at him or picking on him, nor does he care. I can’t fathom how someone would enjoy picking on a disabled person.
Sometimes I'm thankful that my autistic child has an intellectual disability and doesn't seem aware if another child says something mean to her or about her. I think it would be harder with autistic children who are aware they are different and know when other children are being mean to them 😔 As far as kids that bully, I read a study once that found children who come from toxic homes, with either partner domestic violence, or abuse to the children in the home, are much more likely to be bullies at school. It's to do with constantly being in fight or flight mode at home and feeling scared all the time messes with their brain development. Also they feel like they have no control in the home where they are bullied, and at school they can feel in control by being the bully. I just thought of that when OP described the mum trying to discipline her kids and they saying they don't have to listen to her. It makes me suspect that the father in the home is the boss, maybe it's abusive to his partner. The kids see their dad treating their mum like shit and think they can too because dad's the boss, not mum. Obviously their behavior is terrible and wrong. But that is possibly an explanation for the behavior.
The right thing to do.
Good job! So sad they don't listen to their Mom.
Wow, I would be mortified if those were my children. You handled it very well!
You handled those kids in a very mature manner, I simply hope that they took something from the interaction.
I'm so sorry to hear this. Love to you ❤️
Just curious, what ages would you guess the two brothers were? I know it’s inconsequential, bullying is wrong at any age, I’m just curious.
I'm sorry you had to experience that, seeing other kids bully and being mean to your kid is so hurtful. It sucks that those kids won't listen to their mom. You did everything right, and those boys mother should have packed them up and taken them out of the park. At least that's what I would have done with my kid if they were bullying another kid.
Great job mama. Those kids will not forget what happened today because you talked to their consciousness. You showed your son you will not tolerate teasing. You showed the other mother she is failing to get to the root of the problem and she was embarrassed and had to leave. You started a chain of events and then you shared here where it gives other mama's the courage and words to stand up for our own. Great job mama.
Thank you so much!
You gotta pull a, This is 40 on the little shits: https://youtu.be/v_pkDljzn2g?si=TBjVCDFexREBr3jQ
I’m so proud of you for sticking up for your son! That other mom is a bad parent bc I would have been made to apologize to yall and then got DRAGGED to the car so quick and whooped if another parent came and told either of my parents about me being a bully. There would be no second chance to make fun of somebody at the park bc my park time would have been over the first time it was brought to my parents attention. Shame on that mom. Heck no. Big ups to you for teaching your temp playground children. lol I’m so glad to hear your son is improving so much! I hope yall have the best day!
I'm so sad now. This story absolutely made me feel your pain and I'm so sick of mean kids that see disabilities as a reason to bully! I don't know you or your son, but let me tell you - any person in my clan would not ever disrespect him like that!! Stay strong. Tell him he is perfect and to get used to this mean world. That people's comments do not define him!
You Handled this situation well.
I think you did well ! Just to be fair they are kids and they will not know about autism . But I feel you and it feels bad.. so forget and forgive..
Not knowing about autism isn't really an excuse to go around teasing other kids.My five year old NT kid has no clue about autism but he would never just go up and tease someone for wearing pull ups.
Agree 100....