Troubled...

So many people have their own opinions when it comes to their children and other children. As long as your pediatrician says she is fine I would not worry. I am a stay at home mom and I believe children will go through their own stages when they are ready. My 4 year old started walking before he was one and my 17 month old son just started walking! I was worried because I felt like they were raised similarly and I was blaming myself for not doing something or just comparing the two, but eventually the younger one decided to walk when he was ready. Social encounters with other kids may help your daughter to open up verbally, but some kids are just quiter and express emotions differently. As long as she is aware and learning you know she is getting smarter everyday. Also I wanted to mention Arbonne to you. They are a health and wellnes co. that offer great products and also income opportunity. I am a stay at home mom and I like it that way, so I started with Arbonne to meet new women and to take stress off my husband. Its a great way to meet people and a lot of the women are stay at home moms or trying to be. If you would like to know more about it, we are meeting this Friday 2/16 at 10 am at Planet Juice on Gilbert and Warner. I would love to meet you and introduce you to a great Arbonne community.

Hello M., I am just turned 35 and a proud mother of my first born son who is 23 months in February. He is getting closer to 2 in march. I was worried that he said and mimicked words but hasnt talked except babble. But everyone said it was normal. I own a buisiness and enrolled my son in a school 3 days a week and my husband doesnt see him often. I have been with him the majority of the time and yes its hard to explain to a man that it is hard work. When I stay home with him all day I barley get to even brush my hair. All my friends have kids that are in their teens and I cant relate to them or even express I cant hang out all the time because between my buisiness and my son and trying to have time with my husband its hard.I to need a friend my age with a child the same age. Kids really need their own age children to be around and babble to each other. I have noticed my son to be very social and advanced. I spend alot of time talking with him and reading picture books and then we play the repeat game by pointing and I say what it is and he mimicks even if its the sound. As a first time mom I wonder if its right but he is healthy and I guess he will talk when he is ready...

I think your daughter is perfectly normal! i've worked in daycare and nanny work for the past 7 years. i've been a mom for 1 year. And I noticed something interesting... if i don't let my daughter see me, and just observe her and her friends at daycare, I notice that her interaction is completely different than when she's around me. She talks more than usual. Whether or not your baby is talking is not a problem. But if you ever wanna try sneeking in, you might find that she is talking more than you realized. Kids are funny like that, they develop different sides of their personality and certain things bring out different characteristics.
I remember watching my baby at daycare, she went up to a little boy and cupped her hands around his face and started babbling. They were so cute! When I walked in it was all over, she was not going to let me see it. Your daughter is just growing independant, and because of that, they tend to do more on their own without you in the room. its the heartbreaking fact of parenthood, I know I feel it. But, you are doing great not pushing her. She will do everything in her own timing, and her choice to start conversation will plant more enthusiasm to learn words quicker. Encouragement is ok, but pushing might hold her back more. So, good job! You are doing awesome! Email me if you wanna get together on a saturday, I live in mesa and have a million toys it seems at my house. You are free to come by anytime and visit! there is a park nearby and I have lots of snacks for babies here! so, let me know if you are up for it, and I'll talk to you then!

Well if it's any consolation, my son just started talking this year...(he's three), and I'm telling you I've gotten all kinds of "helpful" advice from everyone :( Especially inlaws...all kinds of things from, "You obviously don't interact with him enough", "He need's speech therapy", "Is his hearing OK??" AHHHHHH I have really gotten angry and I actually laughed at some of the things they have said.
I have a question for you,
Have you let your friend know she has upset you? I would, because that bitterness is not the best thing to allow to grow! All things work themselves out, execpt bitterness, it just grows and get's stronger.
Your daughter will be who she is and that's that! Maybe she isn't a fluid speaker yet, so be it....she's two! At 5 I'd be concerned, at 2 I think she's just not ready.
A piece of advice from my mom.... "Don't let the $#!%!@#* get ya down!" God bless and I hope this helps a little.