Thank you all for such lovely kind replies 😍 I always want to post these things on my FB but have to stop myself as I'm sure a lot of people won't get it.
I remember my sons first words at 7 so clearly. I might give myself away a bit but..
He was under a picnic table on a hot dusty summer day and his older brother said to me "tell him to get up, it's filthy under there, he is disgusting"
Ds said "shut up miniIncessantNameChanger, I don't care what you think"
I wanted to scream with joy. Such a beautiful, perfect retort. Of course couldn't put that on FB either.
When his speech therapist told me that is why she wanted to be a therapist I told her she he had changed our lives forever as I was told he would never talk, she cried. I had already cried myself dry years previously. Some people stick with you forever. I will never forget her until I take my last breath.
It's such a basic human skill being able to communicate. But if you can't, you are always wondering what's it like in their world. Has anyone hurt them? Are they happy? What would your voice sound like? Things you take totally for granted. Its wonderful. We are so lucky.