“Are you my friend?” my 15-year-old brother asks me for the fifth time and it has been only thirty minutes since I woke up. Still calm I answer, “yes”, because I cannot change my answer I have given for years if not he will be thrown off. As if trying to get through daily life is not enough of a struggle I have to abide by Justin’s schedule cautiously. Autistic kids tend to have a set itinerary. Included in this itinerary are morning and night hour long showers, snack time, and therapies that absolutely cannot be missed if not the day will be a catastrophe. In dealing with someone that has special needs it does not take learned knowledge, but lived understanding.
I did not realize a distinction between him and others for a while. I grew up using the word special and looked at him highly for being this. There was no ease into understanding that my brother had autism. It was more of a quick realization from one day to the …show more content…
Every Christmas morning, we wake up before the sun has even risen, by choice, and full speed sprint to the Christmas tree. The magic of opening the gifts floods the air. Not only were we getting gifts, but how did Santa know what I wanted? How did he get into the house? Why didn’t the alarm go off? This magic of Christmas has been preserved thanks to Justin. As an eighteen-year-old girl, I can say I still wake up eager just to see his joy in opening presents. The high pitched, “Yay” after unwrapping every single gift sets a fun-loving atmosphere for the rest of the day.
Most people would consider having a special needs sibling as unfavorable, but in fact, it has enriched my life and helped me acquire a diverse mindset. Through my life, I will always have pieces of Justin in me, which bettered me and have made me become who I am today. Wherever life may lead me, Justin is to be acknowledged for the person I am and will
I did not realize a distinction between him and others for a while. I grew up using the word special and looked at him highly for being this. There was no ease into understanding that my brother had autism. It was more of a quick realization from one day to the …show more content…
Every Christmas morning, we wake up before the sun has even risen, by choice, and full speed sprint to the Christmas tree. The magic of opening the gifts floods the air. Not only were we getting gifts, but how did Santa know what I wanted? How did he get into the house? Why didn’t the alarm go off? This magic of Christmas has been preserved thanks to Justin. As an eighteen-year-old girl, I can say I still wake up eager just to see his joy in opening presents. The high pitched, “Yay” after unwrapping every single gift sets a fun-loving atmosphere for the rest of the day.
Most people would consider having a special needs sibling as unfavorable, but in fact, it has enriched my life and helped me acquire a diverse mindset. Through my life, I will always have pieces of Justin in me, which bettered me and have made me become who I am today. Wherever life may lead me, Justin is to be acknowledged for the person I am and will