Mar 07 2009
Falling Back to Spring Forward
image by John Haslam/foxypar4 on Creative Commons
The clocks are ’springing forward’ tomorrow - brighter days ahead. It’s a strange time right now: I hear birds signing outside, but the early mornings are still cold and uncomfortable. All around the ground is a muddy quagmire topped with greenery. We’re expecting temperatures near 60 today, but since there’s still snow on the ground, many of us parents are still dressing the kids in snowsuits so they don’t get soaked and chilled. Even the geese have made a couple of cameos, but have decided against signing any contracts just yet; they’re gone again. It’s the messy ‘in-between’ stage.
It has seemed lately that in some ways Gus has been going backwards; regressing. In other ways, he has merely stagnated. He’s still having difficulty with doing independent work in school. And he’s been wandering the school halls or doing dangerous things like climbing on school furniture. Why?
Nearly eight years of observation provides a hopeful answer - I try not to worry about these setbacks any more. It seems that before he can jump forward, he’s got to take a few steps back. The progress always outweighs the regressions. I don’t know why exactly this happens. But when I look at nature, it seems that many transitions are less than pretty. If you’ve ever seen a baby bird hatch, at first they’re all twisted, discombobulated, upside down…and quite unattractive (in a cute, my-mom-just-sat-on-my-head kind of way).
Baby Robin Hatching video by Youtube user JSitube
Gus woke up this morning (at a reasonable hour), dressed himself (in matching clothes even), went downstairs and set his Pokemon game up until everyone else got out of bed. Clearly, he’s gaining independence. He’s already gone through a physical growth spurt, and now his mind is following along with a developmental surge. The regressive behaviors are already starting to fade along with the dark days. He’s almost squelched through all the transitional muck. I see sunnier skies in Gus’s near future.
Do you notice any regression in your child just before a developmental leap forward?
