Things change.

Friday evening, we took the whole crew to dinner at a favorite barbecue place, one we frequent every few weeks. TJ always orders either a pulled-pork sandwich or ribs. The place was packed when we arrived and apparently had been all evening. They were out of pulled pork and—you guessed it—ribs.

Saturday, we went to Rosa’s and though we ordered them plain, TJ’s tacos came with lettuce and tomatoes and were topped with sour cream.

I remember clearly when either would have ended the evening. I can’t tell you how many times my husband or I took TJ outside to manage a meltdown while the rest of the family ate. Or how often we just threw food into to-go boxes and packed up the whole crew. It was exhausting and demoralizing for us. And at least as hard for our other kids. And for TJ—particularly when he became aware that his behavior impacted others, he’d get through the meltdown only to be upset all over again that he’d hurt someone’s feelings or ruined their plans.

But no more.

Friday, he just decided to try something different, ordered brisket, and cleared his plate. And he did it on his own—I didn’t realize there was a potential issue until the meal was over. Saturday, he just scraped the veggies and sour cream off as best he could, then ate them with no complaint. Both evenings were wonderfully enjoyed with family. For a little while, I did not consciously think about autism.

Most parents would read this and think, “Big deal! He’s nineteen—of course he should just roll with the flow!” But if you know autism, you get it. i’m just glad I’m reminded again how far we’ve come.

So hang in there! Things do improve with time. You may not see it this week, this month, or even this year. But there will come a point where you can look back and see progress. And be encouraged.

What issue has your child overcome? Big or seemingly small, please share in the comments below.