So we talk about what we’re doing, and I try to extend his use of language that way. I do things that are a little bit beyond him, hoping he will summon the courage to jump the gap. Just last week, for the first time, he waded into the sea after me, right up to his hips. I was stoked. He was bowled by a wave, got soaked and wanted to get out, but next time, he came in again, so he clearly wasn’t scarred by the experience, and did seem to have a better awareness of the waves. Nothing I’ve done before has ever given him any awareness of them, however often I’ve pointed them out. Now he giggles and laughs and catches them and throws shells at them, and is not frightened when they wet him.

My only criticism is that your story is so well written that it delayed my own writing here. Hopefully, my account finds its way in, and I encourage any other readers with a story to do the same. Our stories help each other.