Can't help but share this.............

[Emilysmom]

LOL I know you are all probably very tired of hearing about Emily and her camp story this year, but I have to add one more thing: Emily has a pretty big vocabulary, but doesn't tend to initiate conversations very much at all. She asks questions, answers questions (IF she is in the mood!), etc....but doesn't just sit and talk to me about her life. That is one thing I have wished for....for a LONG time! Well, late last night I asked her if she was glad she went to camp, and she started talking and went on....nonstop for at least 30 minutes! I'm telling you, this was the longest full conversation we have ever had!!! She started out by asking me if I knew "Sarah"....one of the other campers. She said "well Mom, Sarah was actually kind of MEAN", and she went on and on telling me about each camper, which ones she liked best, what they did each day, what she liked (roasting marshmellows by the campfire seemed to be her favorite thing), what they ate, etc. It was awesome for me cause normally I just have to WONDER if she had a good experience cause she doesn't usually share all the details. She tickles me so much.....she uses phrases like "Oh yes, by the way....we also rode in a canoe on the lake". LOL I never say "by the way"....not sure where she got that one, but I'm loving it!!
This was SUCH a great experience for me....to hear her talk about her week, because I have to admit that I had started to worry that her ability to communicate was ALWAYS going to be limited to simple answers to my questions and cute comebacks! I can't explain what a HUGE lump I got in my throat listening to her simply TALK to me. Amazing!! I'm afraid that we've been guilty of throwing too many questions at her at one time, and not waiting completely for her response before shooting off another question! Last night, I decided to just sit back and LISTEN. I added an occasional "oh that sounds like FUN", but then would get quiet again and she'd go on and on. When we picked her up at camp, I asked her counselor (and there were 3 other counselors sitting close enough to hear) if Emily had been shy and quiet at all (what I had been afraid of), and they laughed and all said "NO WAY is she quiet!!!" They added that she did everything she was supposed to do, EXCEPT for getting up in the morning.....sometimes it took at least 3 wake ups.

Sorry to go on and on. I SO well remember when she was 3 and 4 and feeling like she'd never use full sentences, and this was just very exciting to me!!

After talking about camp, she then started to talk about her birthday and the party she is wanting to plan.......YIKES!! She listed at least 30 people she wants to invite (ummm normally we have 6 or so!!!), so we'll look into that tomorrow. I have considered waiting to do her birthday party until after school starts because it's easier to invite her friends when they are in school....and her school starts JULY 30th!!!

Thanks for letting me share,
Susan

[Pat]

WOW Susan ;D First, we like to hear Emily stories! I would have had to wait until camp was over to find out how it went & then you would have forgotten something. Second, so you've been telling us Emily is shy Doesn't sound like it to me. My middle child's middle name is Emily, I hope Emily doesn't talk as much as mine does ;D LOL I'm glad she had a great time!

[shellk]

:DSusan,
I have to agree, I never get tired of Emily stories from you or from Jackie..Love them!
That is so exciting that she really opened up and told you evrything..Glad to hear that she had a fabulous time. One day I hope that Kourtney will do things like that as well..
Thanks for sharing that, that was a very special moment for you and Emily.. ;D


Michele

[Deborah]

Wow Susan!! Thanks for sharing. That is so encouraging for me to hear Emily's stories. I look foward to the day when I have those same conversations with Jennifer.
Give Em a big hug from us
Deborah

[Ericsmomma]

Susan,

That's awesome!! I'm so glad Emily had a great time..and that she shared it with you!! You had to be loving every minute of it!!...........Dolly

[rickismom]

Oh, how encouraging this is for me! Ricki also usually talks in "telegraphic" (Minimun) form, at the most 3 or four sentences if excited. So I quess there is hope!
GLAD SHE ENJOYED HERSELF!
How come school starys July 30? I remember school always starting after labor day when I was a kid....

[Emilysmom]

Rickismom: School in our district is considered to be "modified year round"....which means the kids go for 9 weeks on and 2 weeks off, 9 weeks on and 2 weeks off, 9 weeks on and 2 weeks on, 9 weeks on and an 8 week summer vacation. Hmmmmmm, that doesn't SOUND like 52 weeks, but somehow it works out! We start school July 30th...registration; but the first official day is like August 3rd. Then they have a 2 week break at the very beginning of October. So far, we like it....but I'd love a bit longer summer.
~
You bet I loved that little chat with my girl....I was SO thrilled, and afraid to say much at all for fear I would make her stop talking! One thing we are doing when school starts is to use a form that SHE has to write on that will come home that has spaces for things like what she did in each class, what she ate at lunch, who she hung out with, what she liked best about her day and what she liked least. I'm hoping that making HER responsible for that will encourage her to talk about her day......for years we kept a communication notebook that all her teachers wrote in, telling us about her day. While that kept me very informed, I think it also made Emily think I already knew everything and she didn't need to tell me a thing. I'll let you know how this works.

[meghans_mom]

Susan...that is so terrific! thanks for sharing your happiness with us - y'all know I worry so much about MM's speech so hearing how well your Emily is doing gives me great hope for the future! Glad she had a such a wonderful time at camp :-D
laurie

[updowns]

That is great Susan - great that Emily got on so well and holding a conversation WOW - it must have been such a thrill for you! It was wonderful that she was able to relate so much of her time at camp to you.

Sarah's biggest delay is speech - unlike Emily she never stops talking but not a lot of it makes sense! Her language skills have improved and she still surprises me with some of the things she says but a lot is still unintelligible, and if it wasn't for the communication notebook I would know very little about her day.

I think it is really cool that Emily was able to communicate properly with you. WTG Em!!!!!

Stella

[Sherri]

Hey Susan,

I absolutely love to hear about Miss Emily!! And I'm so happy to read that she was able to share so much with you about her adventures at camp

I'm envious of all the opportunities that you have access to for Emily, like camp & her sports team that she plays for. I'm so looking forward when Jared can start participating in Special Olympics!!

Take care & have a wonderful weekend!!

((Hugs))
Sherri

[christie]

Awwwww SUSAN how cool is that ;D ;D We are going to have rename Ms. Em aka CHATTERBOX now LOL

I know how much you wanted this girl for some time now and am sooo HAPPY to read your post tonght ;D

As always our kids never stop surprising us and always do what we think they might not at their OWN time ;D

HUGS to you both

CC

[MaggiesMom]

Sounds great to me! I can't wait for Maggie to say her first sentence! Much less hold a conversation!

So glad she had a great time. Camp is always such an unknown. Sometimes great, sometimes stinky! Always great to hear good news.

Robin M - Maggie's mom