Sharks, Turtles and… Spiders!

Last Sunday afternoon Cathal and I went to Sealife, an aquarium South of Dublin.

The Sharks were a major hit, we spent a long time watching them and commenting on them.




The turtles were also a favourite, we had to stop and admire them twice. But the second time was the best, as Cathal proved it is possible to play Hide and Seek with sea creatures.



And to finish it all, yesterday evening I got a recital of Incy Bitsy Spider. Lovely!





PS – Cathal’s speech is coming along so much at the moment. He is acquiring many words and expressions so quickly that I do not always understand what he is saying. I am the one who needs to catch up! ;-)

“Whaza?”... Progress, that’s what it is!

« Kèssè? » ... Du Progrès, voilà ce que c’est !



I was very impressed a couple of weeks ago to hear Cathal saying to me “bi-KKKK”. It took me a few seconds to realise that instead of signing “biscuit” he was saying the word. In fact, Cathal is making incredible progress in with his communication. Every time I see him I need to catch up with his latest acquisitions. It seems that as he masters one sign, he wants to move on to the verbal expression of it. Which is exactly the intention of using signs as a support and as a facilitating tool for verbal communication.

Il y a environ deux semaines, j’ai été très contente d’entendre Cathal me dire « bi-KKKK ». Il m’a fallut quelques secondes pour réaliser qu’au lieu de faire le signe pour « biscuit » il disait le mot. En effet, Cathal fait de grands progrès en terme de communication. Chaque fois que je le vois je dois me mettre à jour de ses dernières acquisitions. Il semble que dès qu’il a acquis un signe, il veut passer à l’expression verbal du mot. Ce qui est exactement la raison d’utiliser les signes comme moyen de support pour aider la communication verbale.

Among his latest words:
- “Whaza?” = “What is that?” Obviously he must be asked this question so often that he is now asking it back.
- “Where” followed by pointing at the object or the person with a triumphant “there!”
- some colours, though he can mix the signs for one or the other. But in the next 2 videos, we can clearly hear “oooo” for “blue”, “eeee” for green, “ed” for “red”
- “NO” if he disagrees (and he does, a lot... typical 2 year old!) or “Nooooo” with a smile when we are playing a game, like pointing at lots of different animals and saying “is that the cat?”

Parmi ses derniers mots:
- “Whaza?” = “What is that?” qui pourrait se traduire par « Kèssè? »Apparemment on lui pose cette question tellement souvent qu’il la pose à son tour.
- “Where” (c’est à dire: « où ») suivi d’un triomphant “there!” « là! »
- certaines couleurs, entre le bleu, le vert, le rouge, bien qu’il mélange un peu les signes pour ces couleurs, mais les sons correspondent. Dans les deux vidéos qui suivent, on entend bien ces sons en anglais.
- l’équivalent de « NON » quand il n’est pas du même avis que nous (et c’est souvent... typique d’un enfant de 2 ans !) ou « Nooooon » avec un sourire quand on joue, par exemple en montrant du doigt plusieurs animaux différent et demandant : « c’est le chat ? »


(I apologise for the sound of the 1st video, it was very windy that day. But what we can hear show how good he is! And shows how good his Mammy is at signing!)

(Je m’excuse pour la qualité du son de la 1ère vidéo, il y avait beaucoup de vent ce jour là. Mais on peut entendre comme il communique bien ! Et comme sa Maman sait bien utiliser le langage par signes !)









Little explanation for those who may be interested: Verbal communication is one of the human activities most difficult to learn. The whole purpose of signing is to enable the child with learning difficulties to express himself/herself in a way that is easier to master than verbal communication. It is used as reinforcement to verbal communication, and a stepping stone towards the spoken word. The Irish sign language taught to young children with learning difficulties (Lámh, which means “hands” in Irish) has about 400 words.

Petite explication pour ceux qui peuvent être intéressés: La communication verbale est une des activités humaine les plus difficiles à apprendre. Le rôle du langage par signes est de donner à l’enfant ayant des difficultés d’apprentissage un moyen de s’exprimer qui est plus facile à apprendre que la communication verbale. C’est utilisé comme soutien à la communication verbale, et comme point de départ vers le mot parlé. Le langage par signes enseigné aux jeunes enfants en Irlande (Lámh, ce qui veut dire « mains » en irlandais) a environ 400 mots.



There was a time, was Cathal was about 11 months old, when I got somewhat worried about the fact that he was not a bit interested in solid food, his mammy’s milk being so much nicer. Cathal demonstrated to me at the time that I should trust him. I can officially confirm that he was right, I needn’t have worried. And one of his favourite foods is... “patttt” = pasta! To a point that when asked in the morning if he wants his breakfast, he has been known to answer: “No! Pattttt”. And later on if he wants lunch, his answer is often: “No! Pattttt”. And finally when told in the evening that dinner is ready: “No! Pattttt”. And sometimes, all these answers for each meal of the same day! Why do so many children like pasta so much?

Il fut un temps, quand Cathal avait environ 11 mois, où j’étais un peu inquiète du fait qu’il n’était pas du tout intéressé par la nourriture solide, le lait de sa maman étant si bon. Cathal m’a démontré à ce moment là que je devais lui faire confiance. Je peux officiellement confirmer qu’il avait raison, que je n’avais aucune raison de m’inquiéter. Et un de ses aliments préféré est... « pattttt » = les pâtes ! Au point que quand on lui demande le matin s’il veut son petit déjeuner, il lui arrive de répondre : « No ! Patttt ». Et plus tard s’il veut déjeuner, sa réponse est souvent : « No ! Patttt ». Et finalement le soir quand on lui dit que le dîner est prêt : « No ! Patttt ». Et souvent toutes ces réponses pour chaque repas de la même journée ! Pourquoi tant d’enfants aiment-ils ainsi les pâtes ?


And when pasta is on the menu, he now eats all of it and on his own, with virtually no help.

Et quand les pâtes sont au menu, il mange maintenant tout et tout seul, avec presque pas d’aide.





The result is a belly full of homemade lasagna (his mammy’s cooking) and a very happy little boy!

Le résultat est un estomac plein de lasagne faite-maison (par sa maman) et un petit garçon très heureux !

T’is me, t’is me...

Last Friday evening, and Cathal and I are playing a fun game: “Where is…?”




So I ask and sign “Where… is… Mamma?”

And Cathal’s face brightens up, he looks left, right, left again, then points to the kitchen and signs Mamma.

And yes, Mamma is indeed in the kitchen.




So I ask and sign “Where… is… Dadda?”

And Cathal’s face brightens up again, he looks all around, then points up and signs Dadda.

And guest what? The Dad is upstairs…!




On we continue with our game, and I ask and sign “Where… is… Cathal?”

Now a big smile appears on the little face, an index points to his torso, and then the hand shapes itself into a horizontal curve… Hold on a sec, did you sign “Cathal”? I repeat the question, and he repeats his answer with the two clear signs.


Ok, the “C” curve for Cathal should be vertical, but hey, what is important here? He told me his name, and I understood. Similarly he signs Mamma and Dadda the same way at the moment, and it’s for us to work out the context. But as long as it’s all about his parents… it’s for his Dad to say how he feels about being signed as a mammy…

The thing is that this was the first time Cathal was signing his name, first time ever, ever! And he did it for me! Yea!




So we moved on the last part of the game, me asking and signing “Where… is… Nana?” and Cathal’s pointing at me, and then his hand rising to touch the back of his hair (his version of Nana).




We then excitedly went to tell Mammy that Cathal could sign his name. She did not quite believe us, but we demonstrated. When the Dad came downstairs we also told him, but our attention had shifted to more interesting things, so we did not demonstrate again. However I have it from reliable sources that Cathal has shown both his parents throughout the weekend that he not only knows his name, but can produce proof of his identity at any time.

But I was shown first. He trusted me enough to try out the sign with me. I feel very privileged. And kind of chuffed.

Another simple yet precious moment between my little prince and I.

Forget the Words

My last post might have been a clue: I like words. I like pondering their true and assumed meanings, tossing around the various concepts they may carry. Though I usually prefer using simple words, I love exploring the etymology of words I come across in my diversified readings. I also enjoy examining the syntax of phrases I encounter, playing with various interpretations, weighing the context in which the are used.

I would imagine that my twisty life training has contributed to this love of language. The most formative years of my life, teens and young adulthood, were spend studying French literature, linguistics, philosophy, Latin (good old Cicero was scrutinised for hours), ancient Greek (yes, I am talking of the Iliad and the Odyssey, years before I ever heard of James Joyce’s Dublin version of the adventures of Ulysses, of the sage Plato, and of these masters of classic theatre: Aristophanes and Sophocles). Unfortunately, as I did not keep up these two ancient no-longer spoken tongues, I would be incapable now of deciphering any text. Pity, considering the endless hours I spend thumbing my door-step sized dictionaries! And can you imagine a seventeen year old spending a total of eight hours a week, yes, eight full hours, listening to a teacher exploring the minds of the Great Thinkers? I remember producing some memorable essays on existentialism, and wish I could read them now, to see how far I have travelled since!

Then I turned my attention to the world of Business, Marketing, Supply Chain. Very different, clear, crisp meanings, with little ambiguity. I now spend my “productive” days drawing documents with legal weight, where all interpretations must be considered and ruled out until only one remains, the one “we” want.

But it is not all about words. My work also includes talking at length, trying to understand what others want, what they mean, and what they do not want me to ask them; trying also to reassure them, to convince them, to reel them in. And there the choice of words used, those I hear and those I speak, is important of course, but not nearly as the tone of voice, the unspoken, the body-language, the facial hints, the darting eyes, the unsettled fingers twisting a pen, the emotions almost visible below the surface of the conversation. I have learnt over time to use my tamed yet very real fiery temperament to emphasis points and drive ideas home. I have learnt over time to use my naturally numerous hand gestures (I “speak” with my hands) to underscore and strengthen my message. Words are a part of any communication process, but often only a very small part.

Why this meandering? I was privileged earlier this week to be given a demonstration in communications by my youngest teacher. In three chapters:

Chapter One. Picture this: early in the week, just after 7 o’clock in the morning of the night before, when I babysat Cathal and stayed overnight to cut on the commuting home late at night and back in the city before dawn. I, sitting on the sofa, wrapped around a cup of strong, steaming, freshly brewed black coffee, definitely not awake. The Mammy, sitting on the same sofa, similar cup in hand, beady sleepy eyes. And Cathal between us, chatting away, full of the joys of life after a night’s sleep. I get up, pull on my jacket, gather my bags, car keys, turn to the pair of them and wave, saying “bye, see you Friday”. And there it happened, and for the first time directed at someone else than the Dad (until then, he had been the only recipient): Cathal’s little hand shooting up, palm turned towards me, the little fist opening and closing rhythmically, while a big happy smile lights up his face. No words needed here. I melted, and fought hard to leave.


Chapter Two. I arrive in Cathal’s house Friday evening, say the usual hello, talk to him, to the Mammy, give him time to know I am there. After about five minutes I take him on my lap, facing me. I venture a kiss. And then he lunges forward, grabs my cheek on one side (some strength in his pinching!) and my hair on the other, pulls my face towards his, open his month, and glues it on my skin, holding me closer, and closer still… after a few minutes, my whole face - cheeks, nose, chin, eye lids - was covered in baby dribble and we were both smiling! Big melt down in my heart…


Finally Chapter Three. Same Friday evening, some time later, me sitting on the same sofa. Cathal sitting on my knees, facing me. We do the usual “the wheels of the bus…” follow by “row your boat”. He stares at me throughout. Intense concentration. I repeat the “wheels of the bus”, all three verses of it, with all the gestures, tickles, and what nots. Cathal’s part of the play has not changed. Ok so, let’s add. I say, while using the Lamh sign, “again?” and, not waiting, repeat the full song. At the end I wait a while, and then say-sign “again?” And... a little left hand grabs my right one, the signing one, and shakes it, twice. I say and sign “again?” once more. And he shakes it – again! Twice, as the sign. No doubt. So we repeated the song, the gestures, the signing of "again", then the song, the gestures, the joined hand-on-hand signing of "again", on, and on, and on... Cathal was not signing, he was making me sign! And getting his entertainment in the process!

Clever boy!

Forget the words. Indeed, who needs them?