How do you know what Benny Boy wants/needs?
People often notice us communicating with Benny, and fetching something for him, or nodding our head yes or no, yet he didn’t speak a word.
“How do you know what he wants?”
I’m often left a little blank, and I stop and think, how DO I know what he needs? He tells me so many things right in front of people that it’s sometimes downright hilarious! First off, we have taught him a little sign language. We teach him a sign the correct way. He shivers and shakes in anticipation when he sees we are teaching him a new sign. It usually takes him about 2 days, then he makes the sign the best he can. Often it is a form of the real sign, but altered just a bit. What is important is that we know what he’s asking. Through Benny sign language, he can ask for these things:
*I want water
*I want milk…then
*May I watch a movie? Whoever heard of drinking milk without watching a music DVD?
*I want my sister Hannah. Favorite sister of all!
*I want my sister Diana, Laurie or Sam. He insists on the same sign for all three. They say it’s because he has eyes only for Hannah!
*Where is mom?
*Daddy!! Favorite person in the entire universe!
*Get my guitar for me, please. I like to think he’s polite when he “talks”.
*I need a tube feed
*I need my diaper changed
*Please change my jeans into pajamas
*Please sing a song! All day every day, whatever song is his latest addiction! Right now, “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder.”
*Sing, “Baby Bumble-bee”, Mom! (Another current addiction.)
*He signs please & thank you.
*Turn the lights on! This means every single light and fan in the whole house. We do not save on electricity around here!
*I spy a baby and I spy a puppie! Yep, same sign. He is not nice to either babies or puppies. He doesn’t mean to be rough, but he doesn’t understand that they are fragile. Please keep your babies and puppies at least two arms lengths away from him, thank you very much.
He’s my Benny…
The most amazing soul of anyone I know.
