As they frequently play here on the trampoline, I thought it wouldn't be a bad idea if I expanded my vocabulary to more than letters and New Jersey sign language (which I don’t use around the kids).
While looking for books at the library on signing, I came across a video set about teaching your baby to sign. I was fascinated by this and sure wish I had thought about it when my kids were babies. How much easier it would have made almost EVERYTHING! Evidently you start teaching your infant between 6 and 7 months (although it does state that they are never too old to get started) and it gives some examples of a couple to start with. Apparently “More”, “Milk” and “Eat” are the easiest concepts to start with.
This also got me thinking, my MIL has now reached a stage in her MS where she is unable to communicate. She can’t speak, she now can’t write, she began refusing to use her computer to e-mail us (which was our only way to communicate with her between visits) and there is no way for her to make herself understood by anyone.
This has got to be incredibly frustrating for her. I had suggested about a year or two ago that maybe she start using sign, but she refused at that point. She still had some speech capabilities, and was able to write then. It has changed now. I wonder if she would be willing to do so now? I know she knows some sign, and my SIL says she used to be fluent, but it is a matter of her wanting to do so.
We are going to try to go see her Saturday (if no emergencies come up for Hubby at work) and I will broach the subject again then. Hopefully she will at least consider it.