A look back and now

Got a local newsletter in the mail today, and right there, on page 4, was one of those checklists. The title of the article was "Is Your Child's Development Behind?" Of course, around here, we know the answer to that. Yes. No. Not any more. Yes, still. But I read it anyway.

Ahhhh...it takes me back. Here's the list of "red flags" for toddlers:

--Has tantrums that last 20 minutes or longer (Check. TH)
--Breaks things on purpose. (Check. Dubya, Little Da)
--Hurts or bites other people. (Check. TH, Little...but then again, lots of toddlers bite, right?)
--Does not respond to name by 12 months. (Check. Little)
--Does not play appropriately with toys. (Check. TH)
--Flaps hands, rocks, or sways over and over (Check. TH, Little)
--Does not point or use gestures by 12 months (Check. TH, Little)
--Has no words by 18 months. (No one! Little had about two by then, after two months of speech therapy.)
--Does not follow simple or familiar directions by 18 months. (Check. Little)
--Does not engage in pretend play by 24 months. (Check. TH)

And then there's the "Any Age" list:
--Fussy or cries a lot, even when not tired or hungry
--Has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
--Does not notice people
--Becomes easily upset with changes in routine or moving from one activity to another.

Hmmm...can "Any Age" mean "Age 40"? Just asking.

Yep. We've all got a bad case of the SIFOs in this house.