It's known that a child's development doesn't always follow the exact "milestones" and not all children develop according to the textbook. This doesn't necessarily mean their development is abnormal. While an individualized approach is crucial, it's also important to be alert to certain red flags that may indicate a child isn’t developing as they should. Lucy Oldland realized her son was different from other children his age when he was just one year old. She already had two older boys, so she was an experienced mother and knew what typical child development looked like. What did she observe in her youngest son, Logan? He didn't like being cuddled or held, and he didn’t play with other children. Additionally, while other children his age were starting to say their first words, Logan didn’t speak at all. Soon after, her concerns were confirmed, and Logan received a diagnosis.
She noticed concerning signs in her son: "Logan also avoided all kinds of closeness and affection"
Lucy Oldland was already experienced in raising children, so when she noticed some troubling signs in her youngest son, she knew something was wrong. She admitted that Logan didn’t speak and didn’t even attempt to communicate. What’s more, when around other children, he avoided socializing and played alone in a corner. Logan also avoided all kinds of closeness and affection, which worried his mother the most since children his age typically crave it.
"I could never cuddle him, and he walked on his toes all day. It was especially hard for me. I couldn't hug him, I'm his mom, and being loved always has to be on his terms" - Lucy Oldland said.
Finally, the boy's mother received the diagnosis: Logan is on the autism spectrum
When Logan was two years old, doctors finally diagnosed him with autism spectrum disorder. With this information, Logan was immediately put under the care of specialists, including a speech therapist. His mother admitted that the biggest challenge for her was not being able to fully understand her son's needs, despite wanting to provide him with the best care possible.
It’s a huge challenge and can sometimes be sad for a mom. Understanding Logan’s daily needs and challenges can be so difficult. If a child can't communicate, everything becomes much more complicated because they can't express what they need. Logan can’t tell me if he's thirsty or hungry, and if he starts crying, I have to figure out what’s wrong. But I have a fantastic family, and Logan has a lot of support
- she shared.
Thanks to Logan's diagnosis, Lucy was able to help not only her son but also other children with similar issues. It turned out that Logan’s school only provided seven speech therapy sessions per year, and these services were very expensive. Along with other parents of children attending the school, Lucy organized a fundraiser to ensure that all children who needed it could access a specialist.
