From Delayed Milestones to Big Breakthroughs: Pixel’s 7-Year Journey of Growth and Love
Every parenting journey is unique. While this post may share comparisons with other parenting approaches, it’s never to say what’s right or wrong. This is simply our story — how we lovingly nurtured Pixel, our child with special abilities, in the way that best suits him.
🎉 A Big Milestone
This month, we’re celebrating Pixel’s 7th-year milestone — and I couldn’t be prouder. It’s been a journey filled with challenges, breakthroughs, laughter, and love. I’m happy to share the struggles, fun, and guide that helped us raise a child like Pixel.
🧩 The First Signs
Like many parents, we also faced challenges raising a child with early developmental delays. Pixel showed multiple red flags around age 2. It was Kim, through her instinct as a mother, who first pointed them out.
These included:
- Not pointing at objects to show interest
- Trouble relating to others or lacking interest in people
- Avoiding eye contact
- Not expressing emotions or talking about feelings
- Disliking cuddles
- Appearing unaware when spoken to, but reacting to other sounds
- Not playing with other kids
- Repeating or echoing words and phrases
- No pretend play
- Lining up toys and repeating actions
- Getting upset when routines changed
- Becoming a picky eater
- Delayed speech
- Learning to walk independently close to 3 years old
We evaluated these patterns ourselves before visiting a pediatrician who referred us to a developmental therapist. Prior to this, at around 7 months old, Pixel could already say “Oh yeah” while smiling and making eye contact — a behavior that eventually faded. At age 2, however, he could memorize the alphabet, complex shapes, and count to 100. We thought it was a sign of advanced intelligence, but the therapist explained that these were pattern-based and not signs of comprehension yet. We were advised to help him develop expression and emotional response first.
🧠 Therapy & the Pandemic
In our first few therapy sessions, we saw how therapists tried to communicate with Pixel. They would knock on the wall to get his attention before speaking. Pixel would briefly stop, then continue playing, not looking at the therapist. While he could identify objects, expressing emotion was still a challenge. After just five sessions, the pandemic hit the Philippines, making it difficult for us to continue.
I was honestly sad. I’d met adults who struggled with social skills due to delayed development. I knew it would be tough for Pixel to socialize and live independently if we didn’t help him early on. So, we poured all our energy into nurturing him the best way we could at home.
🗣️ Teaching Language, Not Just Words
We focused first on language. We originally thought of raising him as an English-speaking child, but realized few people around us used English — especially his cousins. To help him build real-life communication skills, we decided to teach him Filipino first.
Morning routines:
- “Tingnan mo, may bulaklak! Anong kulay? Yellow.”
- “Uy, may ibon! Ay, lumipad na siya!”
- “Hello Mr. Sunshine, sabi ni Pixel hi!”
Evening reflections:
- “Good night, dalawang itim na humps.”
- “Good night, dilaw na street light.”
- “Good night, green na damo.”
We even practiced attention span while going up and down stairs: “Step 10, step 9, step—?” and he’d reply “Step 8.” These games helped improve his focus and responses.
🎨 Art, Emotions & Milestones
Pixel is full of energy — constantly jumping and climbing. To release that energy, Kim and Pixel often went for afternoon walks. That helped him sleep better by 7 PM.
To build his creativity and fine motor skills, Kim introduced him to art. She bought crayons and pencils to get him used to holding tools. Soon, our old room became a graffiti wall — his personal canvas!
Through drawing, Pixel began expressing emotions. Kim would draw a sad face, and Pixel could name it. This was a huge step in emotional identification.
At age 4, he also started trying other food. He had only eaten rice and chicken before that. We encouraged him by attaching milestones to food: “When you turn 4, you can try this fruit.” He didn’t like being forced — but introducing things gently helped him overcome food aversions.
⛪ A Return to Faith & School
When Pixel was 3, Kim and I began attending church again, hoping he could learn compassion through Jesus’ teachings. Surprisingly, it wasn’t just for him — it renewed our spiritual life too.
Later, when it came time for school, we enrolled him in a Catholic institution. We were worried about how he would socialize, adapt, and communicate in a formal classroom setting. But with Kim’s daily guidance at home — and the dedication of his Kinder teachers — Pixel gradually adjusted and began to thrive.
His teachers played a big role in his early development. They gave him patience, structure, and gentle encouragement. They took time to understand his learning style and gave us regular feedback, which helped us reinforce those lessons at home. We are truly grateful for their kindness and commitment during his most formative stage.
Though quiet in class, Pixel was always listening. He’d come home telling us who cried, who got the correct answer, or who didn’t follow instructions. He was observant — always present in his own quiet way.
🏫 Choosing Public School
When it was time for Grade 1, we considered enrolling him in a prestigious school. I even told him stories from my time at a public school. In the end, we chose the same public school his cousins attended. We wanted him to experience real-life diversity, connect with all kinds of kids, and continue growing in a Filipino-speaking environment.
Private schools usually push English communication early on — but our goal wasn’t competition. It was emotional growth, social learning, and confidence-building. We believe we made the right call.
🌟 Today: A Story of Progress
- He just completed Grade 1 today
- He’s making friends
- He’s learning to play football
- He’s learning to swim
- He’s learning to play the guitar
- He eats everything we serve
- He talks — a lot!
- He asks thoughtful questions
- He shares stories
- He expresses emotions clearly
- He shows compassion and awareness
He’s thriving academically and emotionally. More than just good grades, seeing him express himself with joy — from once being non-verbal to becoming so talkative — is a miracle we’ll always be grateful for.
💖 A Tribute to Kim
I want to recognize the unwavering love and dedication of my wife, Kim. She has done everything for Pixel — from daily walks and art time to emotional coaching and bedtime stories. Her strength, creativity, and patience are the foundation of our son’s growth. I’m endlessly grateful to raise Pixel alongside her.
🙏 Moving Forward
As Pixel continues to grow, we’re preparing him for life — with better education, deeper relationships, and stronger self-awareness. We take each step with intention and faith. Our journey isn’t perfect, but it’s full of love. And we’re so proud of how far we’ve come.
💬 Our Advice to Fellow Parents
If you're a parent navigating similar challenges, here are some things we've learned from raising Pixel. Every child is different, but we hope these lessons offer encouragement and guidance:
- No screen time as much as possible. If your child shows early developmental delays or signs related to the spectrum, screens can worsen the delay. They need genuine human interaction to build real-world understanding.
- Limit sweets. Too much sugar has been linked to developmental and behavioral issues. A healthy diet truly supports brain and emotional development.
- Dedicate time early on. If you spot signs of developmental delays, give your time generously. Learn about each milestone — from pregnancy to early childhood — and actively engage in your child’s growth journey.
- Don’t force your child. Guide them gently and introduce tasks gradually. While all kids need a little push, children like ours thrive better when transitions are pre-conditioned. They may resist breaking their routines, so prepare them slowly — it avoids frustration for both them and you.
- These kids are not for competition. Don’t compare. They grow in their own rhythm. Celebrate small wins and focus on nurturing, not pressuring. Their progress may be quiet — but it’s real and meaningful.
- This is not a one-person job. You and your partner brought your child into the world — and you need each other to raise them. Share the load. Be each other's support system.
- Patience is everything. It’s hard, yes — but these children need you to stay steady. Take care of your mental and emotional health so you can guide them with strength and calmness.
- People will compare your child to others. Let them. If you know your child deeply, there’s no need to react. Most criticism comes from a place of misunderstanding.
- Have faith in God. Let His wisdom guide your heart. We believe that every day, God walks with us in this journey, giving us strength and grace to raise our child with love.
🧠 A Personal Reflection
As I raised Pixel, I started to see pieces of myself in him. Growing up, I also struggled with attention. I couldn’t focus in school — all I wanted to do was play. I was extremely sensitive to my surroundings. I could easily sense negativity in a room, and it affected me more than people realized. I’ve always craved peace and positivity, and I believe Pixel inherited that part of me.
Knowing how much I struggled — and still sometimes struggle — to socialize or fit in, made me even more determined to guide Pixel with love and understanding. I know how frustrating it is to feel misunderstood or out of sync with others. That’s why I approach parenting not just as a father, but as someone who has walked a similar path. Pixel’s journey reminded me of my own. And in raising him, I’m learning to heal parts of myself too.