This Kid right here.
He just amazes me.
This is Carter, he is Eli’s brother. He is currently 11 years old going on 30.
During the weekday, I usually pick him up from school and we head to our local grocery store on our way home to pick up something to make for dinner. It’s just a little thing we like to do together.
Yesterday, I picked him up and we proceeded to go to our favorite little local grocery store right around the corner from our house. Pasta was sounding delicious for dinner that evening.
As we walked down the isles gathering our things, Carter spotted a young male walking and skipping down the isles by himself talking and singing away. It was noticeable he had down syndrome and Carter was worried that he was all alone. The next thing I knew, Carter had made his way over to this very robust free-spirited young man and started talking to him. They hung out together for the whole rest of our shopping trip.
At checkout, he hung out with us and when we were done we said goodbye to him and went our way.
When we left, Carter said that his grandma was in the hospital, and he was hanging out at the store with someone who I guess worked there.
After my son finished telling me all the things they talked about and how cool and sweet he thought he was, his little face got serious.
Mom? He asked me. Why were other people giving him disgusted looks while he was trying to talk to them or while he was just skipping down the aisles singing? Why were they ignoring him?
It reminded me once again how insanely proud I am of my son.
I told him that yes, as awful as it is, a few my be disgusted, but some people feel nervous around people with special needs, they don’t know how to act. They don’t know how to not be weird, they weren’t taught.
He said that’s ridiculous! What, like they are scared? Yes, I told him.. I guess in a way, some people are. Carter just couldn’t wrap his head around it. How can they be scared of him when he is a human being just like us?
I told him “See this one of the many reasons you are special. You have such a kind heart Carter, and you are right, he is no different from you and me. You have the privilege to have Eli as a brother, you know what it is like to be around your brother who has special needs. You see first hand what it’s like and how hard your brother works to learn and accomplish certain things.”
“You know that he may do things differently, but he is no different. You my son, will make a difference in the world.”
“BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE IN THE WORLD.”
—Mahatma Gandhi
Autism Lion 