Last night I had to make a quick run to the grocery store. My kids are old enough (and in the case of the ASD kid, functional enough) that they can stay home alone for short periods of time. As timing would have it, I left the house right as a big lightening and thunderstorm was going over our area. I came home 20 minutes later, and my NT son told me that ASD son had been freaking out. I asked ASD son if he was OK now. He said that this was his greatest fear, to be in a thunderstorm (with loud noises) all alone.
At that point, NT son burst out crying, saying this is what he hated, ASD son saying things like that and making him feel invisible. Broke my heart.
ASD son was just being typical autistically not clueing in on others' feelings. I talked with ASD son about this, telling him that NT son (who is younger) looked up to him and wanted his attention and love, and he needed to be a kind big brother, etc. I encouraged him to speak with NT son to smooth things over. He did, they fist bumped, and all was cool then between them. Oh the resilience of children!
I understand where NT is coming from - I, too, went through a time where I had to process things to come to a place of acceptance of ASD son's condition. NT son is clearly still in that process. How can I help him come to that same place? He is 11 and very bright.
10 Sep 2015, 8:20 am
