I've never doubted Adri's ability to make purchases. She's able to make sense and reference and she articulates well.
Ashlynn, on the other hand, is comparatively slower in terms of speech development. By the time Adri was almost 2, she was already uttering long phrases and clauses. Ashlynn is a reluctant speaker and is only beginning to speak a few monosyllabic words.
Didn't think Ashlynn would be able to make a purchase, especially when she's unable and unwilling to express herself in words.
We passed by Watsons and Ashlynn asked for sweets. She took her pick. She was so enthusiastic that I was worried she would ask to (or perhaps, not even ask) open the pack of treats on the spot. Like any parent would, I quickly reminded Ashlynn on the purchasing process. I had very low expectation (*guilt*), I didn't expect her to understand what I was saying and was expecting her to kick up a fuss, just like how any toddler would, given a refusal.
I had a pleasant surprise.
Not only did Ashlynn not kick up a fuss, she very quickly toddled to the cashier and wanted to pass the pack of sweets to the cashier. She seemed to have the prior knowledge that the cashier had to do something with the item of purchase (ie scan and pack).
There were two in the queue. Again, i did what any parent would do in her attempt to instill good values. I quickly instructed Ashlynn on the need to queue behind the two customers. The fuss I (again *double guilt*) expected didn't happen. My cutesy immediately toddled to the customers in queue and waited patiently behind them!
My! I should hv taken a picture!!
The moment it was our turn, she toddled confidently to the cashier's, thrusted her arm straight in the air, in her attempt to pass the pack of sweets to the cashier. Again, she knew exactly what to do!
Of course, she wasn't tall enough and Mummy had to carry her.
After the purchase, Ashlynn left Mummy awed while she toddled to Daddy (i had asked her to do so) and asked Daddy to open her well-deserved reward.
It was a timely reminder that I should never belittle/underestimate what our lil ones can do!
Adri used to wow me almost every other day. Adri's progress was fast and it was almost like one surprise after another, both in linguistic and psychomotor skills.
Ashlynn has her own strengths. In comparison to her sis, she progresses faster in her fine motor skills which tend to be overshadowed by the more prominent linguistic progress and competence.
With Ashlynn, I have to remind myself that I should not only focus on linguistic progress but affirm her in her other areas of growth.
No one child is the same (even though both popped from my womb). :)
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