I'm elated.

Bugsy thinks he can read and I'm elated.

I told you last week that we'd started a program called Stepping Stones Together.  What I didn't tell you is that the Bug has always had, and probably will always have, some special needs and needed special help in certain areas.  When he can't do something, he gets frustrated and he gives up.  Case in point: he refuses to take off his own shirt most of the time, because even though he's 3 1/2, he physically can't get some of his shirts off.  So he's given up trying.  So, like I said, if he finds something's too difficult for him, he just won't do it.

Cognitive skills have always been an issue.  Bugsy is bright.  Very bright.  He's compassionate and funny and amazing.  But sometimes things aren't as easy for him to understand.  He needs a little more explanation, and then he "gets" it.  And when he gets it, he GETS it!

So, anyway, we started this Stepping Stones Together program and we LOVE it!  When I tell Bugs that it's his "learning" time (he loves learning time, or I'd call it something else), he runs to the table, no matter what else is going on! 

Today, he said to me, "Mommy, you don't have to read the book first, because I already know it's called My Puppy Sam and I can read all the words."  Now, the book wasn't called My Puppy Sam.  And Bugsy couldn't read all the words.  He guessed based on what he saw in the pictures and what he remembered from Friday.  BUT after I read the book to him, he could repeat it back word for word.  And for the first time, today, he was able to point at each word as he "read" it.  I think that's big stuff!

My little guy loves drawing the pictures, too, almost as much as he loves filling in the boxes when he completes a book!

 He likes answering the questions.  Today I asked him, "What would you ask your dog if he could talk?"  And he replied, "I would ask him I love him."  (I think we still need to work on questions vs. statements!)

So far, I'm very pleased with the Stepping Stones Together program!  Check it out!  It's just $19.99 for 90 days, or $39.99 for a whole year!  It's great!