6 Comments

  1. lee
    April 4, 2016 @ 9:34 am

    As usual, you hit it on the head. I am crying and smiling reading this because I can relate so much. My daughter (will turn 2 at the end of this month) already says to her 6 year old brother “no cover ears” when she sees him starting to get over-stimulated. I truly think siblings are the best “medicine” for our kids. By having a sibling with special needs it teaches them from an early age to be kind, patient and accepting of others. I am so thankful for the way my two take care of their brother and how much they all love eachother. It gives me peace of mind and fills my heart with gratitude. Thanks for writing this and understanding. Your kids sound amazing-just like you!

    Reply

  2. Mia
    April 4, 2016 @ 9:38 am

    Thank you. My guy is also the oldest of 5 – and everything rings true. No planning, no time to discuss, the balance of joy at watching them help their brother while simultaneously worrying about the affect it will have on their childhood. Happy forever autism awareness month!

    Reply

  3. Beth
    April 4, 2016 @ 12:59 pm

    Both my boys have Autism but they are like day and night. They stress each other out with their own perseverations, but then miss each other when the other isn’t there. They give each other kisses that are far too generous and I will catch my little one just rubbing his hands over his big brother’s hair that everyone else envies. They love each other but can’t stand each other at the same time. Our house is a crazy place of love.
    I wish I had had the support of a spouse to have more children that might have been typical to give them the opportunity to have better role models. I am always thankful that I made the decision to have a second to bring my big guy out of his little world and give each ot them a brother.

    Reply

  4. Jeannie Prinsen
    April 4, 2016 @ 2:17 pm

    I have a daughter (17) with Asperger’s and a son (13) with ASD and other developmental issues. My daughter is her brother’s biggest defender and comforter, and he looks up to her and loves her company. I guess I will never know what it’s like to have a “typical” child who has a sibling with autism, but I am very glad for them — and me — that they have one another. Thanks again for sharing a part of your lives with us in this post; they’re an important part of my Monday!

    Reply

  5. lisa
    April 4, 2016 @ 3:14 pm

    I’ve always worried about our daughter who is now 14 and her role of protector and big sister to our son who was also diagnosed PDD nos. I’m so happy they have each other, they are very close and our Luca has the sweetest of hearts, I loved your story of your family and how they all fit in, it’s like that with us although on a smaller scale. When he was little and everyone told me to keep to a strict routine I made sure to go a different way to school every few days, to bring little changes in and big ones, we moved country from Australia to Italy three years ago and just this past month at age 12 the letters made words and he started to read very slowly sounding out the words in Italian. I’m going to share this to my daughter, I’m not sure she knows just how much she is loved and adored….thanks again xxx ciao lisa

    Reply

  6. Tammy
    April 5, 2016 @ 12:11 am

    thank you. Nash is our last, he is 10. Next oldest is Sophie, 18 years old and in college. We have grandchildren almost Nash’s age. Siblings put up with a lot. When Sophie was deciding what to do for her senior project in high school I said she was going to do an autism thing…the Light it up Blue thing. After ignoring it for the longest time she said no. NO? NO!!!! This is NOT GOING TO BE ABOUT AUTISM MOM! I stepped back and she was right. This was her thing…and I stepped back and shut my mouth…and I am glad I did.

    Reply

Leave a Reply