With just three weeks left until he turns 5, I can't help but try to cram in as many milestones as possible into his 4th year. In my last post, I shared how the majority of his milestones have been met during this year alone. While the conversation surrounding milestones, especially in the autism community, often requires sensitivity, I personally still find milestones to be an important part of our journey and conversation. Why? For me, milestones provide a tangible measure of his progress and achievements. They offer reassurance that he is growing and developing, serving as motivation for both him and our family. Each milestone reached is not only a celebration of his hard work and determination, reflecting the strides he has made in various aspects of his development, but it also guides me in identifying areas where he needs further support to make continued progress. Acknowledging these milestones helps us stay focused on his growth path and ensures that we are providing the right support and opportunities for him to thrive. It's about celebrating his successes while also being proactive in addressing the challenges ahead, making each milestone a stepping stone to his future achievements. 📔eBook on Joint Attention & collection of activities, link in BIO 🔗 📔[NEW] eBook on a collection of activities for Speech Exercises, link in BIO 🔗 👑 The Full Mini-vlogs on our education, therapy and lifestyle approach on the Instagram Subscribers’ Page 👑 📌And if we take a moment to appreciate this significance, how incredible is it that Michael, despite seemingly just catching up to typical milestones, is counting in both ASL and spoken English—making him bilingual! Adding Korean into the mix, he’s actually trilingual. And for a child who faces language challenges, this is a truly remarkable achievement. This multilingual capability is a significant milestone in itself, highlighting his ability to overcome challenges and excel in ways that go beyond traditional expectations. His progress inspires us to continue exploring and nurturing his potential, knowing that his achievements are paving the way for a bright and promising future. 📌Many of the traditional milestones are essential for the more complex development of skills in cognitive, social, and emotional domains, including physical and motor development as well. I've been careful not to adopt a ‘laissez-faire’ approach when it comes to milestones. It's a delicate balance, ensuring that we aren't pushing for development in areas where he isn't ready or able to due to underlying conditions, while also avoiding an attitude of letting things take their own course without intervening. While I do believe in allowing children to develop and learn at their own pace, it is with much guidance and intervention, not a simple “let it be” attitude. Instead, we can reframe our perspective to view milestones as a basic plan and guide. This approach allows us to use milestones as reference points, helping us identify areas of focus and track progress. Rather than seeing them as rigid benchmarks that must be achieved immediately, we treat them as flexible goals that can be approached at our own pace. This mindset encourages us to remain proactive and adaptive, finding creative solutions and adjusting our strategies as needed. By doing so, we ensure that each milestone is not just a target but a step towards his overall growth and development, providing structure without stifling his natural learning process. #heartwarming #handsome #toddler #parenting #autism #ASL #signlanguage #nonspeaking #nonverbal #autismawareness #autismjourney #neurodivergent #parentingtips #representationmatters #toddlermom #autismadvocate #autismparenting #parentingautism #communication #inspiration #motivation #milestones - @justonthespectrum