baby's development speed (or lack there of)

[smittenbyu]

We are coming across so many people who feel sorry for us/D, when they find out that she doesn't walk on her own yet. Everyone feels obligated to tell us a story of how a friend of a friend or their cousin or someone they know or their first child started walking at 16 months.. just like that, to make us feel better or something. I know they are saying that to make us feel better because they start off with the anecdote with, "Oh don't worry!" 

My hubby has also begun to get annoyed and out of concern asked if I was starting to worry of if all these questions were getting to me, since I face more people with such questions than he does. And we realised this is just the beginning.

She is happy crawling everywhere. She walks holding on to things, pushing things. She is just not confident enough of herself to let go and walk... just yet.

Really, I am not worried at all. Not one bit. When she will be ready to walk, I will get all excited. But till then she is who she is. What's the rush?! And people actually don't believe me when I say this too. In the long span of life, will it matter if she starts to walk at 10 months or 18 months? Will it affect her university application or career prospects?

Comments

[echomyst.livejournal.com]

Good for you for staying strong and level-headed. You're right -- this is just the beginning. If it's not about walking, then it's about learning to read or write... and then it'll be about who gets into which university (or not at all)... and then it'll be about jobs (or lack thereof), houses, cars, whatever :-) I'm sure some of my family friends feel sorry for my parents because I'm staying at home with T instead of pursuing some lucrative career like their own children.

[smittenbyu]

exactly what N said!! ;)

It's funny that I also get questioned about my lack of job more by Asians than I do from westerners! It always feels like there's a switch in practices! ;)

[tulipchica.livejournal.com]

My daughter is in the same place, and while I'm not truly worried in my heart--I do have the extra burden of a physician husband. Eh. He hasn't added too much pressure, but things could change after our baby wellness check-up next week...

[smittenbyu]

yeeks... our Doc had for the first time questioned D's weight (it plateaued since last visit)! sigh.

I think if D was 18 months and still not showing signs of walking then I would be concerned. But she is still well within range reaching her milestones. If otherwise I am more than happy to get help. I won't feel bad about that either. I am just grateful that I will be able to afford to get her that help!

All the best with the appointment!! It's nerve racking when you have to constantly keep a level head about things with all pressures around you over things that might just work themselves out!

[smittenbyu]

see that's nice of you! I just feel that one mustn't assume that all parents are worried sick about their kids pace of development. If we did worry then it's a different story, it would be comforting to hear more stories. But people just assume that we are worried, when we really aren't. And then they don't believe that we aren't worried! :S It makes us feel like we are the bad ones for not worrying! ;)

[spacefem.livejournal.com]

I feel the same way about Josie talking. She says "uh oh"... that's it. No other words, no mama or dada or ball or cookie. People just sort of give us that "huh" look with the raised eyebrow. Something tells me she'll be fine!

[smittenbyu]

haha... we get that too! Family back home insists that the problem will go away when we come to India! I wonder when I ever even said that D not talking words is a "problem"!

[fussycat.livejournal.com]

When anyone comments on someone's child not walking at such and such age I tell them a real story about the girl who was my best friend in primary school. She didn't walk until she was 3 years old. At the age of 11 she was on the national youth team for speed skating.

People are ALWAYS comparing! My mum won't stop comparing Cody to his cousin who is 2 months older. I just ignore it all.

[elodie21.livejournal.com]

Its just plain silly comparing and consoling like it even matters! Anyways, trust me its endless, starts off with walking, then talking, then the school you go to, the univ you attend, the job and etc etc. Shrug it off, people have nothing better to do than note months!