The Queen of Babble-on. That's Daryl's new name for Anna. Get it? And that's what she is, especially when she's comfortable. When it's just us here at home, she talks NONSTOP and it's mostly babbling. If we turn up the TV, she gets louder. If we try to talk to each other over top her voice, she gets louder.
Here's her usual repertoire:
"Aw!"
"You all right?"
"You fall down!"
"Mwah!"
"Where are you?"
"Where'd he go?"
"Come in!"
"Blast off!"
"One, two, ten!"
"Your elbow."
"Your knee."
"Eyes."
"Want suit."
"Let's go!"
"What's that noise?"
"Aw, Barney!"
"Hi, Mommy."
Then there are the regular babbling sounds, which aren't words at all. And Anna will say these things loudly and clearly over and over and OVER AGAIN. It hardly ever stops. At least when it's just us. She'll get a little shy when other people come in, even people she knows. And now that she's comfortable in her program, they tell me she's a "Chatty Cathy" there, as well.
I know most parents who have children with autism long to hear their voice. All we want is for Anna to shut up. Or lower her voice. We're tired of turning up the TV to a crazy volume or not being able to hear each other is saying.
What I long for is a regular conversation. One where I can ask a question and she can answer me. One where we can share our feelings, tell jokes or relate situations in our lives. Mary and I talked on the phone today for almost an hour about what happened at college last night. I want to do that with Anna, too!
But I have the Queen of Babble-on. That's what God gave me, and there are times when she'll say something to make us laugh. She's not always annoying. I guess those are the times I need to cling to.
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