November 17, 2004 - Wednesday
I arrived at school today to pick up the boys just as Miss Maria was admonishing Harry to let Jeremy speak for himself. At first, I thought he was translating for Jeremy, as he has done for his mother and me on occasion, and that Miss Maria was saying that it wasn't necessary because Jeremy was speaking a lot more clearly now. I've noticed that too, although Jeremy still has a ways to go before he's readily understood by people that aren't at least somewhat familiar with his particular elocution, or lack thereof. However, that's not really what Miss Maria was talking about. She was really encouraging Harry to let Jeremy simply answer his own questions. Apparently Harry seems to be in the habit of answering questions on Jeremy's behalf as either either a helpful big brother sensing that Jeremy is a little shy at school or as an "I know what the answer is" attention grab. Knowing Harry, and knowing Jeremy's proclivity to speak very quietly or not speak at all when he's a little uncertain, I suspect there's a little bit of both at work. Ultimately, Miss Maria's real point was that Jeremy is doing a lot better now simply talking and being less shy. Where once it might have been nice for Harry to help out, now it was time for him to let Jeremy grow into his own.


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