Who is the expert?

Parents don’t see themselves as experts.

But they are.

YOU ARE. 

You know your child's cries and exclamations.  You know their love language. Their favorite toys, food, and playground swing (the one on the far right 😀). 

You even know their preferred YouTube song– and that they don’t like it when you sing along!

You’re an expert in the child you’ve been given or chosen. But don’t get it wrong . . . even experts need expertise. It can be scary asking someone for help. Reaching out and saying to a total stranger - “Help me!! I don’t understand how my child eats, sleeps, communicates, learns, OR plays.”

It doesn’t make you any less of an expert.  It just makes you an expert that cares. An expert that’s concerned.  An expert that is willing to grow.

There is always something that the expert can learn about their child – a new perspective. A new understanding. Laurie Cameron calls it “seeing with beginner’s eyes/mind”. 

Take the expert knowledge that you already have and mix it with the recommendations from other experts (i.e., speech-language pathologist, developmental pediatrician, occupational therapist, etc, ) and do the following:

• Talk with them about what REALLY works for your family (if you can’t do 8 hours of therapy a week,... let them know)

• Discuss what works in your culture

• Ask about others who are going through the same thing you are (peer support groups)

• Contact me at Toddler Talk, LLC!

• Take time for yourself so that YOUR expert mind can be clear, relaxed, and grateful instead of resentful and cranky  (sleep, early morning quiet moment, quiet tea break, a longer than 2 minute bath!!!) 

• Thank yourself for being the expert and advocate in your child’s life