I've been talking baby talk the past couple of days. I've been helping out my son and daughter-in-law and enjoying my grandson. They have noted that when he is in day care, he doesn't verbalize as much because the caregiver has other small children and he is the youngest. When I see him at first he doesn't respond verbally, then after a few hours he speaks more. This is the struggle with childcare. The child never gets the same level of attention as he does at home. Soon he will be making his voice heard more, but it's difficult for all of us to handle. Of course, first is that he is safe and in a healthy environment. And he clearly is. I saw the place this morning. But one can imagine that the toddlers dominate, because they speak and move around so much. They are all darling, and obviously well cared for, but a baby can be sat down or put in the crib and the demands of the toddlers are ever present, with snacks, potty training, negotiating toy squabbles between them. The baby is in that way the easiest but the most likely to be shortchanged.
It's wrenching for the parents and I feel so sympathetic to them and my grandson. But I live too far away to babysit him every day, and all I can do is help out when they are home and needing me to play with him while they run errands, grade papers and grocery shop. I talk or sing to him most of the time, and try to engage him in looking at things, playing with his toys or listening to his music boxes and I read to him a lot, as do his parents. It's not perfect. Nothing ever is. But I'm up for some intense baby talk. That's my right speech act.
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