Inappropriate Clapping

Like all parents, I work with Ben daily on things like clapping, waving and simple signs. So far, none of these hand signals have really sunk in. He either ignores them completely or uses them inappropriately.

After two weeks of diligent practice, and zero progress, I thought Ben wasn't ready to learn the "please" sign. I stopped practicing, planning to reintroduce it in a few weeks. One afternoon, about 10 days since I last used it, Ben desperately wanted his blanket and he patted his chest twice. So, it must be in his little brain somewhere, the trick is getting it out.

Waving is only slightly better. Instead of waving hello or goodbye, even after uncomfortably long goodbyes with his babysitter every signal day, Ben still will not wave. He sits there looking at everyone waving like they're crazy and, if we're being honest, he's right. No one really waves and smiles for five minutes every single time they say goodbye.

He does however hold his hands palms up wiggling his fingers toward him in a "gimme" fashion. Inexplicably, he uses this made up "gimme" sign consistently correctly asking for more food or his pacifier.

But by far, my favorite inappropriate hand signal is when he chooses to clap. He's been clapping for about five months and recently started clapping to music and will sometimes clap along with Chuck or I when he does something well. But more often, he claps when he's upset. I'll be changing his diaper and he's wailing like I'm torturing him, then he starts clapping. "Whaaa, clap, clap, clap. Whaaaa, clap, clap, clap."

Now, he's started clapping when someone accomplishes something that isn't that great. It seems sort of sarcastic. Today during church, after a prayer, he started clapping a unenthusiastic clap. It seemed like he was saying, "Nice prayer."

More and more I'm seeing that Ben knows his own mind and as he grows up, I need to encourage him to be exactly who he is. Let's face it, he may always have a pension for clapping inappropriately or think prolonged goodbyes are lame.