Self sufficient

With Jenny having more time to spend at home and both Jason and Charlie getting used to spending their days together, be it at the office, at home or at the campus, the weeks passed by and turned to months. In a flash Charlie was already eight months and still showed no interest for talking, while it was clear that he understood the spoken language just fine. Though there had been some worries about this matter, Susan let Jenny know that Jason had been a late talker and Jenny had been a late talker herself as well. With late talking being a sign of above average intelligence and Charlie showing no other oddities, Jenny and Jason decided to let him be and start speaking when he felt ready for it. Especially since he was showing other clear signs of being an intelligent child. Figuring out puzzles and games that were well beyond his age group and even working with things like electronic devices like they were nothing.

His talent proved to be a fun matter for Jason, who enjoyed challenging his son to test his abilities. Pushing him a bit further every time. He also did this because had missed this stimulation when he was growing up. Making him bored more than once, even when the teachers gave him extra materials and allowed him to work on assignments from higher classes. By doing this, both of them could enjoy their time together and Charlie could develop faster and further than he had. Jenny did the same by speaking to him in different languages, which would help his language abilities once he would start speaking. With her speaking three languages fluently and some others on a basic level, she was the perfect woman for the job. Like this, both parents did their best to keep their son stimulated and entertained, while they found enjoyment in it for themselves as well.

While the parents focused on Charlie's mental development, the grandparents focused on his physical development. With Susan training his motoric skills with drawing and building, Stephen did so by training him to learn to walk and playing simple forms of catch and such with him. Though they all worked hard to play with him whenever they could, Charlie was a fairly self sufficient child. Keeping himself well entertained all by himself and having the ability to remain focused on the task at hand for however long it took. Which made him a fairly easy child to look after and was a big reason why Jason had been able to combine all his own responsibilities with taking care of Charlie.

This was also the reason why Elizabeth and Nick didn't mind taking him off their hands when Jenny and Jason needed a day for themselves and the grandparents weren't available and Jenny and Jason did the same for them when they needed it. Charlie had found a good friend in little Sam or at least one whose presence he did not mind. So, his senior of one month was allowed to keep him company from time to time while the parents were allowed a day off in turns. Though Charlie still didn't allow them to touch him unnecessarily, he didn't cause them trouble either. He just wished to be left alone. Giving his attention on his terms. Mainly when he required their assistance, which wasn't often. Proving both them as well as his own parents how self sufficient he actually was as he showed that the majority of what they did on a daily basis was only because he wanted them to, not because he needed them to.

So, while he loved being shushed to sleep by Jenny, he could go to sleep on his own easily. He enjoyed being carried by Jenny everywhere but he could reach his destination by crawling as well or walking by holding onto objects in his surroundings. He didn't need to be asked if he needed to be fed or if he needed to be changed but he enjoyed any form of attention Jenny would bestow on him. But when he was around company that weren't in the small circle he had accepted, he would use his own non-verbal signs to let the other know if and what he needed. Pulling a sleeve or some trouser legs when he needed something. Using the sign language he had been taught by Jenny to communicate his needs. Though he only knew a few at this age, he knew enough to get through the day. Making him one impressive child and a force to be reckoned with when he became older.

As he was growing hard and was becoming more amazing with each day, Jenny felt that it was high time to allow his other grandmother and his uncles to see him in his current glory. Mary's return to the Netherlands had been a few months now and she was missing Charlie quite a bit. With one of the festivities of Jenny's culture coming up soon, they had a good reason to visit the Netherlands as a family. Being joined by Stephen and Susan, who would leave right after the festivities, Jenny and Jason planned to take little Charlie on his first overseas trip to attend the celebration and allow Charlie to spend some more time with his relatives on that side of the family.

They had chosen a good celebration to attend as the festival of breaking the fast was one that was filled with all kinds of sweets and good food. Allowing Charlie to not only get a whiff of that side of his heritage but also be spoiled and stuffed with all that was suitable for him to eat. Though his parents and grandparents would probably be able to enjoy all of it even more than he could, explaining why they had been looking forward to it all so much.