Nemo, the Teacher

So, an update on Liberty's Finding Nemo marathon:

I got a few very helpful emails from fellow bloggers about the magical qualities of this movie. I realized that Liberty was watching this movie again with new eyes, like he just "got" it, and indeed, I really do think that a light bulb went off and he understood it suddenly.

Since last week, he is able to point to the screen when I ask him to point out Dory, Nemo, Marlin, and Gil. Most significantly, I found him in his room with his old Finding Nemo book (when did we get this, 2003?) and he was poring over the pages.

He squeals with laughter and rolls on the floor slapping his thighs when Nigel, the pelican flies into the dentists office and all hell breaks loose. He is scared over and over again when the diver appears to take Nemo and when Nemo gets stuck in the aquarium filter...scared but thrilled at the same time.

He LOVES this movie, and he is learning.

All of his reactions are appropriate. More importantly, I see my child does indeed have language. Not actual speech yet, but he has language. In fact, his receptive language has increased. He is understanding! I can tell him that we need to get his socks and shoes on and turn around and there he is socks in hand. Last night I told him he needed to brush his teeth and he got up and took the toothbrush out of my hand. This is HUGE stuff.

Thankfully, I have been able to make the shift in my perception that children can learn in many different ways in their own time on their own schedule. I always thought I believed that until Liberty came along and challenged me to test that theory, and more to trust Life, that all really is well somehow, not according to the way I think things should be.

There are teachers everywhere.