Sibling love changes lives

Parent-teacher conferences were last week.

Yeah, I know.

I went to my daughter’s conference first.   Meg’s grades were good, although in the classroom, gym, and art she scored and “n” for “needs improvement” on demonstrating responsible behavior.  She’s like her mom– loves to talk and socialize! Meg is a very good reader (I’m already finding her hiding with books, deeply engrossed), a deep thinker, and a good math student.  Meg notices things that other kids in her reading skills group don’t notice yet.  She is a delight, her teacher said.  Yes!

Yet, that’s not what made me the proud mama.

Meg has struck up a friendship with “Floyd,” who is on the spectrum.  I know he’s on the spectrum  from observing him in the classroom while carrying out my room-parent duties.

Meg and Floyd have things in common. Rather than sit in a group with the other kids, they sit on their own.  Their desks are separate, but near one another.  Meg actually requested to be separated from the other kids– on her own– at the beginning of the school year, because she couldn’t control her talking in a group.  Wow!  My experience with autism tells me that Floyd benefits from having his own desk, too.

Meg and Floyd do “stations” together sometimes, and play together at inside recess. Meg’s teacher said that she looked up to see Meg and Floyd playing with alphabet letters, making them talk to one another.  She commented that Floyd has a friend, and we both got teary.  She went on to say that Meg doesn’t see the behaviors, doesn’t “fight back,” isn’t offended.   I commented that I think it’s because of having two older brothers with autism, and she agreed.

My family life can be hectic and crazy and stressful.  However, through it all,  my daughter is growing into an amazing person.

She doesn’t see the differences, she sees Floyd, her friend.

Floyd has a friend.

That gives me hope.