The days leading up to Charlotte’s 5th birthday had me mentally scribing a post about what a poised, confident, social child she has become. She was a perfect hostess at her party on Saturday, and Sunday was another spectacular day.

Monday, her actual birthday, I was practially giddy with pride from what I witnessed throughout the day.

First thing Monday morning she and Sarah started group swim lessons. With 9 kids in the group, I wasn’t sure how Charlotte would fare. Group situations seem to find her easily distracted and clingy to me.

Not so with swim lessons. She was on top of her game. Focused, following directions, and enthusiastic. She and Sarah were 2 of only 3 swimmers who didn’t cry throughout the whole thing (even the criers didn’t distract her).

From there we quick-transitioned at home (change of clothes, comb out the tangly hair, quick but substantial snack) and headed off to day one of Steel Drum Camp. Here Charlotte was one of 5 in the group. An easy going teacher, a fun new instrument and the up-tempo-but-easy reggae background music all helped make for another great experience.

Next it was lunch in the car and then our usual Monday OT session where her therapist observed she was “totally on it today.” No echolalia, following 4-step directions, unscripted imaginative play.

If this is five, I thought to myself, I love it. Five can stick around!

As the final celebratory act of her birthday, we took a little family trip over to one of Charlotte’s favorite places for ice cream.

It had been some time since she’d had any dairy outside of cheese. And it was her birthday. And I had a coupon. And she loves ice cream. So, a birthday treat.

And so began the slide.

Tuesday she was distracted during swim lessons, she got in trouble for not listening at the camp, there was an excessive amount of screaming at Sarah and me throughout the day. The sisters fought and fought far more than we’d seen in the previous few weeks.

Wednesday she began the high level of sensory seeking. Riding home in the car she was attempting to hang upside down in her seat. She was somewhat emotional and clingy with her dad. Transitions were a struggle.

Thursday things picked up a bit, helped in part, I believe, by the 2-hour group OT session that morning. Camp was successfully managed despite a substitute teacher (one who Charlotte knows and is not particularly fond of). We ended up with a late lunch at Chik-Fil-A where I heard her initiate conversation with another child (seldom witnessed heretofore).

Friday, despite barely handling the huge disappointment at the hands of the swim instructors who didn’t plan for a diving board jump, was better. Fully in upswing mode now.

Friday night she performed beautifully in a steel drum concert at a local park. In front of an audience and with multiple distractions to boot. We the left the park (which was celebrating its birthday) without the celebratory cupcake.

“Oh no! I forgot my cupcake! We have to go back! We have to go back!”

Oops.

We started looking for an open bakery where we might find a substitute cupcake. Bakeries are not open at 8:30 at night.

I made a proposal. G’s is a local ice cream shop that also has baked goods. It’s one of Charlotte’s favorite places. Not willing to risk another ice cream debacle, I offered that we could go there, but only to get a cupcake, no ice cream.

“If you ask for ice cream, and throw a fit, we’ll just leave without even getting a cupcake.”

She repeated that mantra for the duration of the drive. It must have worked because she didn’t so much as glance in the direction of the ice cream counter.

And thus ended the first 5 days of five.

Lessons were learned.

- Back-to-back activities are probably not the smartest thing to do.

- No matter how good it sounds at the moment, stay the hell away from ice cream.

We were up. We were down. And then, importantly, we came back up.

If this is five, I think to myself, I love it! Five can stick around!