A Pleasant Surprise

While I was sitting around Friday night doing a whole lot of nothing, I realized we were having a pretty calm/quiet night considering. It was the Friday of Sydney's first Valentine's day party at school. Some people might think that's a normal thing, having a calm and quiet night with your family, but I remember thinking earlier that day as I left for work that we were in for a roller-coaster ride that night. Sydney was up bright and early and soooo excited to go to school. We had to make cupcakes on Thursday night for her party, and she just could not wait for her party to start and to open her Valentines. Usually when Sydney is so overly excited and anxious for something like this (birthday party, Christmas) we get overrun with meltdowns. Plus, on Fridays she goes to club, and I knew they were going to have some big activities there after school, so I braced myself for the evening. I even stopped and had a beer with some friends on my way home from work, as I knew Kory was getting the girls, and they wanted him to be later than usual so they didn't miss out on the fun.

When I got home, I had completely forgotten about my concerns. We had dinner, and the night went on as they usually do. Then I realized it. Sydney was having a great night! She did not have any meltdowns, she was not in 'sensory seeking' mode, she just was having a good night and hanging out with her family. I stopped and just sat and watched her for a few moments, thankful for how far she has come in less than a year.