Yesterday they got dressed by themselves.
Today they are sitting on the floor saying they can’t put on their socks.
And this is where we, as grown-ups, can understandably get stuck.
Because we have evidence.
You did this yesterday.
I know you can do it.
But having a skill and having access to that skill right now are not always the same thing.
Sleep matters.
Hunger matters.
Stress matters.
Noise matters.
How many steps came before this one matters.
How much anticipation, frustration, sensory input, or effort is already sitting in the system matters.
The skill may still be there. The cost of using it changed.
So when a kid’s ability suddenly looks inconsistent, I’m trying to ask a different question:
What changed about what this task costs today?
That question usually gives me more useful information than “but you know how to do this.”