Look who’s (not) talking: For my son, actions speak much louder than words

My little Dylan is perfect.

No — he really is. 

From his head of straight, shiny hair to the tips of his tiny, soft toes, there’s nothing about my son that falls short of flawless. 

Dylan never ceases to amaze me with his ability to fill my heart with happiness, despite whatever background noise may be giving me a headache. He’s everything a parent could ask for in a toddler.

Before the age of 2, he has fallen head-over-heels in love with the potty, taking every opportunity he can to show off his “accomplishments” in that department. He’s my right-hand man when cleaning, working directly behind me with his plastic Dyson vacuum as I Dustbust the floors. Laundry is a breeze with my little assistant, who happily prances to the garbage, dryer sheet in hand, followed by stacking towels and bed linens on their designated closet shelves.

Thinking about the little things he does brings a grin to my face almost as illuminating as the “big smile” that Dylan produces on command. 

He’s the most selfless toddler I’ve met: Everyone at the table must have their food before he takes his first bite, and Mommy’s head has to be covered when we venture out during rain or snow. You get the point, so I will stop “talking.” 

I wish my little boy would start.

It was confirmed Tuesday by the New Jersey Early Intervention team that Dylan officially has a speech delay. 

His receptive vocabulary is highly advanced, he follows commands that some teenagers wouldn’t comprehend, and he is extremely connected with his surroundings, physically and mentally. 

Most parents brag about how intelligent their children are, but my son really hits it out of the park with his ability to understand the things he does. 

At 23 months old, he’s far ahead of his peers in many ways. However, I have yet to hear his beautiful little voice produce much of a vocabulary — and as a mother, that’s not easy to handle.

When a child’s delayed speech is brought up, the first thing that comes to mind is the “A” word. Though it has received a great deal of attention inthroughout recent years, autism can beremains a very taboo subject and is not something a parent wants to consider.

My baby is my lifeline — everything I do is for that 30-pound package of perfection — and nothing a doctor could tell me would change that depiction.

Unlike thousands of others, I have been reassured that Dylan’s speech delay is not indicative of autism. I didn’t think it was, but being a parent, you repeatedly press the “what if” button and imagine every possible scenario. 

Had those cards been dealt, I would have continued doing the things I’ve done since the day he was born: loving him unconditionally and working hard to give him the greatest life imaginable. 

With New Jersey Early Intervention, which was recommended by our pediatrician after I expressed my own concerns, a team of developmental specialists comes to your home for an in-depth evaluation and then outlines a treatment plan. Our next step involves meeting with a speech therapist and devising a course of action. 

Being a working mother adds a level of difficulty to the equation since I will be unable to attend many of his sessions.

This is when the phrase “it takes a village” really comes into play. 

Thankfully, I have a support system of people around me who take on the role of “mommy” when I can’t, especially my wonderful parents, aka “Lala and Pappy.”

Dylan has made such an incredible impact in just a short period of time. He has his whole life ahead of him, and I can’t wait to see what he does with it.

Of course, I have my own dreams for him, which may include Princeton University, achieving world peace and, when he’s 35 and completely successful, bringing home the perfect girl to meet his mommy. 

OK, maybe I’m getting ahead of myself just a little.

For now, I’ll just keep my mouth shut — and wait until he opens his.