I got the best gift ever on my birthday last month. My soon to be three year old sang ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ for me as I was waking up, and he managed to mimic the majority of the words despite having little to no enunciation. Soon my youngest will be three, and he has an extensive vocabulary, of which he can clearly speak and express around fifteen percent of.

Two years ago my oldest was much the same at three, but can now pronounce ninety percent of the words in his vocabulary. Initially I was told by the experts that my oldest would most likely have life long difficulties with speech that would severely impact the quality of his life, from his career to his relationships. Now he is a poster child for what exactly can be achieved when a kid, his parents, his early education teachers, and dedicated speech therapist can all achieve when they work together through the challenges facing them. It was without doubt the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life.

Now I am going to have to hope for equally as extraordinary results with my youngest, despite the frustrations of finding out what works for one versus the other, the setbacks, the sorrows of seeing my child frustrated from the isolation that lack of verbal self expression brings, and so many other hardships beyond what I could’ve believed a toddler can handle. Ready or not, capable or not, I and my wife, my kids, and the amazingly compassionate and giving people who work with and support us, have to all do our best again to give my youngest son his best chance to overcome his speech challenges.

I do not know if there is any point, some greater spiritual or moral fulfillment that comes with having to face things like this in life. I do know though that the journey my family is taking through all this has given me the experience of what true unconditional and never tiring love is, which I count myself lucky for having received.