Run Juliece,Run Part 2

Do all toddlers experience a phase some parents refer to as the"terrible twos"? During this epoch, language emerges. The child speaks one word or phrases though some formulate sentences. However, the tempests brewing within explodes in impatience, misunderstanding, manipulation and downright rudeness.

Language, acquired from a variety of sources, manifests in countless ways. An easy word which some children learn early consists of two letters: no. Does a child understand disobedience at age two or should they be excused because of immaturity? A child can say no without negative connotation.

"Would you like some candy?"

"No."

Candy serves as a lure from strangers; and if a child responds negatively, a parent should feel proud. The child has said no to cavities, possible abduction and countless dangers. In later years- as a pre- teen or adolescent, that child may have developed the courage to say no to peer pressure - alcohol, illegal drugs, promiscuity and perversions.

But, if the parent or another adult asks a two year old child to sit at the table or in a chair and the response is no, then the time has come to increase the vocabulary! Saying no to a positive directive cannot be overlooked easily. Did the child understand and is demonstrating defiance as well as disobedience? Such behaviour has to be nipped in the bud!

Juliece, though more vocal than her twin Shaniece,generated a terror typical of age two. When something went wrong, she protested by crying, resisting, falling to the ground or wallowing on the floor. Tantrums became a frequent activity of Juliece and her twin. However,tantrums were and still are tagged as unacceptable behaviour. A child who cries, resists, falls to the ground and wallows to express feelings and receives the desired results learns how to control a parent or adult who cannot tolerate the demonstration. What works well once will be tried repeatedly. The parent or guardian will have to learn no.

The "riot act" became a familiar term with me. In the past, children were told that if they could not hear they would feel. Some adults refer to this method as enforcement. They disagree with this method. Children,they say, need to know what is expected of them in a given situation. Adults, who must inform the child about rules, need to relay the consequences. Most training take at least six weeks before it becomes a habit. Elders, in the past, referred to this grace period as "a long rope with a short catch."

Since Juliece always stopped crying and wallowing at the sound of my voice, talking to her solved the problem most of the time. Who tells a two year old about rights and choices? She knew her shoes and clothes; and it proved futile to dress her in shoes or clothing belonging to Shaniece her twin or Demetria her older sister. The assumption that Juliece is blind remains an assumption. Nobody knows how much vision she possesses because she has received no follow up vision tests since her birth. What I have discovered about Juliece is that whether I speak, move or not, Juliece can pick me out of a crowd. Although I joke about her radar ability, i consider it a serious revelation. In spite of what doctors have said about her vision in the past, I believe that Juliece can see.

Thus far, at least six persons  - but less than a dozen - agree that Juliece has some vision. Two of them- both pastors - believe the sight is in the left eye. They have reached this conclusion based on observation and their own inner witness. Her mother and maternal grandmother have made their own observations. Juliece, they reported, could identify the colour of clothing worn by a family member or an activity performed by that person.

Around Yuletide 2008, she mystified me when she asked if she could see the dog. Bobby, the dog, was sitting quietly at least twenty feet away. Who had told her that Bobby was a dog? How could she tell the difference between a cat and a dog? Most people claim that Juliece has a keen sense of smell. But smell does not explain what happened at a community party for the children Through random selection, Juliece had received an unfamiliar gift. I decided to keep it for her while she ate the treat. She asked for her gift by name!

To Be Continued