In thinking over the past year, I find I can sum up a retrospective with the simple phrase: This too shall pass. In fact, it has practically become my mantra.

Like most parents, when I started to realize and eventually come to terms with Chee’s delays, everything became So Significant. At times, ‘delay’ actually meant ‘lacking altogether.’ I fretted and worried over every little odd behavior, every little thing she just didn’t ‘get.’

Would she ever be able to express her needs?
Would she eventually talk TO me or always just AT me?

At times, it seemed a distant dream that she might use the potty on her own, be able to write her own name, enjoy (or even tolerate) circle time. I wondered if I’d forever be denied parking in the garage.

I know all children with developmental delays and/or who are on the Spectrum progress at their own individual pace, but I have a hunch just about any parent can look back over the course of a year and realize that their child has been developing. Much of what was worried and fretted over has passed.

As I look back over this past year, I am reminded of just how much my mantra of This too shall pass has rung true.

Back in January I wrote that Chee was driving me nuts by obsessively opening and closing the DVD player. That little obsession has passed thankfully.

In February, Chee was not verbally answering WH questions. She could give the information if asked differently, but to just simply, verbally respond to a question … a no go. No concerns there anymore. She still struggles with answering Why questions a bit, but she’s working on it.

Remember that fear of the garage? Not an issue anymore. In fact, she’s so NOT afraid of the garage that she runs in there willy nilly any old time she feels like it. I’m kinda missing those days when the garage was Evil.

Chee no longer bans listening to music in the house. Finally, for whatever reason, we can all enjoy listening to CDs again. So long as that CD is set to ‘repeat’ on Bippidy Boppidy Boo, that is.  Ess and I are exercising our veto power once in awhile, though. (We’re tough like that.)

In May she finally potty trained (just pee). In July, she regressed. In September it seemed to “click” again;  and then, finally, in December, she stopped asking for a Pullup to poop. Eureka!

When school began, Chee didn’t want to go. She got over that, but decided she didn’t want to walk inside with a teacher, she wanted me to walk her in.

Overcame  that hurdle and then she began wanting only certain people to walk her in (something I can’t control). And that too has passed and now she’ll walk in with anyone (although not always gladly).

In October I was annoyed at the girls love of screaming at the top of their lungs in the house. I worried that Chee’s sensory needs were all over the board. Fortunately, the screaming phase abated and (knock on wood) we haven’t seen too many sensory “issues” lately.

There are dozens more small things that I could include on this list.

Chee’s seeming disinterest in writing which thankfully has receded.

Her push and punch mode of dealing with Ess which seems to be (mostly) under wraps.

There are new things to fret over, to worry about. But history is showing me that I can relax, breathe a bit, because, just like most everything else … this too shall pass.