It would be stellar if I could hand-pick myself when Wil’s milestones arrive. However, that is rarely the case.
Wil’s milestones tend to show up in the most ordinary of times. It’s strange because we work toward them and work toward them, so when they do arrive, it seems as if a giant flair of fireworks should accompany them. Yet, his milestones have presented themselves as a new, long stretch of words as he stands next to me while I wash dishes in the kitchen sink or a successful try at hopping on one foot while I fold laundry.
Just the other night, our family was sitting around the dinner table. As you can imagine, the twins take over most of the dinner-time conversation. Wil listens intently picking up every word. I make a point to ask Wil questions or he would never get a chance to talk. Well, this particular night, Wil started telling a story of his own without any prompting on my part:
“Dad and me, on the 4-wheeler…Hey! Sisters are not listening!”
“Girls, Wil has something he’d like to share with you.” I said.
Wil continued: “Dad, me, on the 4-wheeler. Down the field to get cranberries!”
“Yes, but they were raspberries, Wil.” Matt said.
“Oh, yeah! Down the field to get raspberries!”
And that is the night Wil’s bold step into self-advocacy began over teriyaki chicken and broccoli.
WILingness 