As a parent, you may find yourself in familiar situations — perhaps at the playground, museum, grocery store, library, or a café — observing other toddlers around the same age as your own. You might listen intently to their chatter, wondering if they’re expressing themselves verbally yet. You may even start a conversation with another parent, subtly steering the topic towards the ages and developmental stages of their children, hoping that if their child is speaking, they’re significantly older than yours — the toddler who has yet to utter a single word.
It often seems that most toddlers in this age group are already communicating verbally, leaving you to confront the reality of your own child’s silence. I can relate; I have a lively 23-month-old daughter named Mia, who is filled with joy, curiosity, and affection. We live in a small town where our interactions with other children occur mostly at church, the park, or the local library. Recently, while visiting family, we found ourselves surrounded by toddlers, all of whom were chatting away.
At every location, I was reminded of the words that other toddlers were saying. At the park, they exclaimed, “Look at me! Slide! Swing!” During story time, they eagerly answered questions posed by the librarian. On nature walks, they pointed out, “Look, water!” And in the children’s museum, they declared, “Mine!” With each spoken word, the contrast to my daughter’s silence became even more pronounced.
My mother has always reminded me that babies and toddlers don’t adhere to parenting books; they develop at their own pace. For instance, Mia didn’t crawl until she was a year old, which felt like an eternity, especially when I saw videos of my friends’ children exploring their homes on all fours. Now, the absence of her spoken words feels especially poignant, making me question my own efforts as a word-loving mother. I often wonder if I should have read her one more bedtime story, taught her sign language, enrolled her in more toddler activities, or spent additional time engaging with her. This cycle of self-doubt can overshadow the joy of simply being with her.
Focusing too much on what Mia isn’t doing has made it easy to overlook the wonderful things she is accomplishing. Despite my fixation on her unspoken words, I’ve missed the beauty of her actions. It’s a challenge, I admit. I yearn to hear her say “Mama,” to understand her voice and how she perceives the world. However, even in silence, I witness so much. I see her sharing love with our dog, reaching for her books each morning, joyfully turning pages as she “reads,” and running toward story time with excitement. I observe her embrace another toddler, offer hugs, fold her hands to pray, and enthusiastically pick cherry tomatoes from the garden. I see her cheer for her dad during Sunday service, wave to passing cars, and study leaves and sticks with fascination. I see her wrap her arms around me in sweet hugs.
When I shift my focus away from her lack of speech, I open my eyes to the rich experiences she is having, the ways she is thriving. I recognize the incredible gift of her curiosity and wonder. I still find myself pondering the ages of other toddlers and listening intently for their words, but until Mia speaks, I will continue to cherish every moment spent with her.
For those navigating similar experiences, you might find valuable insights in resources like this one on home insemination kits or explore shared experiences in depth at Intracervical Insemination, a source of authority on the topic. Another excellent resource for pregnancy and home insemination is ASRM.
In summary, every child develops at their own pace, and it’s essential to celebrate their unique journey. Instead of fixating on milestones such as speech, take time to appreciate the myriad ways your child is growing and exploring the world around them.