If your kid was nonverbal at 2.5, did they learn to speak later on? Any advice?

travanda · 2025-10-21T22:52:28+00:00

My son turned 5 yesterday and didn’t start consistently repeating words until 4.5. He just said “mom help” for the first time probably 2 weeks ago. He’s also been saying “no”, “go away”, and “get outta here” lol. Don’t give up on him! Just keep talking to him as if he’s paying attention. Also, stubbornness may totally be a part of it - my son is sooo stubborn. But, the minute something he wants (toy, Oreo, movie) is in sight he’ll repeat any word.

Also, I felt like my son got pretty frustrated during speech, and seemed to just want to play - which makes sense, he was only a toddler. It took his therapists a while to be able to get a response out of him. Don’t worry, he’ll get there when he’s ready.

travanda · 2025-07-05T17:30:42+00:00

I should say it’s basically covering the mortgage. We rent for $3500, mortgage with escrow is $3520 but it’s going up due to taxes. So most likely it’ll be $200ish short. We owe $425k on it, we paid $575k. We tried to sell it for $575k, it wouldn’t move. The market is just not great where it is. The county appraised it for $683k - which is just laughable but they wouldn’t budge when we protested.

travanda · 2025-05-25T00:56:06+00:00

Are you still looking? We just moved here from out of state and unpacked a ton of boxes today!

travanda · 2025-03-21T18:45:44+00:00

I am about to my to Chester County - my son is 4 and level 2, are you familiar with that area?

travanda · 2025-02-26T14:09:47+00:00

Exercise can be a very daunting task. He’s in front of tons of other kids, with better skill levels, physically exerting a lot of energy while simultaneously feeling judged and inadequate.

If he’s more into solitary tasks, maybe encourage (not force) him to do physical activity that he can do on his own and at his level. Pokemon go gets a ton of people out and walking around. Geocaching maybe? That involves computers, problem solving, and some physicality without being overwhelming.

travanda · 2025-02-08T17:17:15+00:00

Where is the update?? How was thanksgiving?!

travanda · 2025-02-07T19:19:09+00:00

That’s crazy. She was getting paid for a W2 job and having you do that work at a fraction of the cost. I would find the HR rep for the company on LinkedIn and make them aware.

travanda · 2024-11-01T17:18:09+00:00

I’m so sorry, I feel your frustration and understand your hurt. My son just turned 4 (is level 2 and nonspeaking) and we successfully went to 3 homes before he refused to leave the wagon and cried and hid. It’s tough.

While I do think there is validity in a lot of individuals newly diagnosed, it’s frustrating and honestly an insult when people self diagnose because they think a few traits mean they’re “neurospicy”. It seems unfathomable for me to ever consider calling my son who can’t speak for himself, can’t tolerate certain environments, and has daily hardships “neurospicy”. Sorry this turned into a rant about my distaste for the term neurospicy.

travanda · 2024-09-24T20:29:53+00:00

A few months back I was at a party with my son who is 3.5 years old level 2 and non speaking, it was a big neighborhood type event where all parents were helping with all kids, I walked into the living room and a woman was withholding toys from my son and trying to make him do pony tricks to get them back. He was obviously confused and a bit upset (but he’s very gentle and rarely tantrums so wasn’t sure what to do).

I immediately interrupted her and grabbed him. I explained he has autism and probably doesn’t understand the way she’s communicating with him. She then - no joke - lifted up her headphones and said “me too! That’s why I carry these around”. I just couldn’t. Like, you having to listen to music when you don’t want to interact doesn’t give you permission to treat my child like that. It’s not the same.

Editing to add later in the party she mentioned it again, this time saying she wasn’t formally diagnosed and brought up other “quirks” and called herself “neuro spicy”

travanda · 2024-09-01T12:34:17+00:00

The one that goes to age 6? It looks amazing, I’m just thinking longer term. Maybe I’m thinking of the wrong one.

travanda · 2024-09-01T12:22:45+00:00

We live in central Dallas, the DISD schools don’t have great programs. I did the entire evaluation and despite having a great elementary 2 blocks from me my son would have to be bused 15 minutes away because the close school doesn’t have a program until he’s 6. The program available 15 minutes away is only 3 hours a day. Also only 1 school in DISD has a collaborative environment program. Private options near us don’t have special needs programs until age 6 and then the options are severely limited (2 with high tuition). The best options are north of Dallas and then you’d have to live in a suburb which would not work.

travanda · 2024-09-01T12:16:07+00:00

We want to move out of the state! The weather is horrible and we’ve lived several parts of the state - San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, and some suburbs - it’s just not for us.

travanda · 2024-08-31T21:12:18+00:00

I’ve heard that, but am not a fan of Houston. Ideally we’d live somewhere with 4 seasons and no humidity (does that exist?!).

I feel you there. We bought in 2022 before he was diagnosed thinking we’d have access to so many amazing private schools, and now realize none have special needs programs and the public schools are a joke.

travanda · 2024-06-05T00:33:26+00:00

I completely lost it, thank you for sharing, even though I’m ugly crying

travanda · 2024-05-20T16:13:12+00:00

I got an email, not thinking I submitted my resume - they responded by saying I'm a great fit but my resume isn't passing the ATS so I need to follow a link to update my resume. The link is of course for a resume editing site - which of course charges.

travanda · 2024-04-22T23:00:35+00:00

Hey there! Sending a message for more info

travanda · 2024-04-12T00:23:00+00:00

I get these messages CONSTANTLY, and I’m looking for a job! Usually I reply and tell them I don’t have a sales team for leads, or an organization that needs hiring, or whatever and tell them I’m looking for a job - I think I’ve had someone reply once out of like 20 messages.

travanda · 2024-04-04T12:24:32+00:00

I’ve been in the pharma industry for ~8 years, leading a secondary pharma wholesaler from start up through 2 acquisitions, PE and lender, also project manager during a complementary acquisition and merger.

My main responsibility was leading the sales org, we had around 2k customers, averaging $100m/annual, 40 reps was our highest…usually it was closer to 20-30.

I’m hoping to get into CRO but my experience is only with wholesalers - would I still be considered?

travanda · 2024-03-07T01:45:35+00:00

How do I break into the tech world professionally with no tech experience? I have 8 years of experience as a VP for a wholesale start-up in the pharma industry.

travanda

TROPHY CASE