Which is fine, of course. Kids are going to notice things like this and it's our responsibility as their grownups to make sure they get the information they need in order to be a good friend/sibling/partner in crime. So it was with this in mind that I went out and bought a book for him, called "Everybody is Different. A book for young people who have brothers or sisters with autism."
I haven't really had a chance to go through it yet, but it seems like a very sweet book, with sections titled "the three characteristics of autism," "odd behaviours" (it's British) and "so how are you feeling?" As I browsed through the chapter titles, thinking about how I was going to be reading this with Child 2 at some point in the near future, I thought: Why isn't there a book I can read to Child 1? Surely Child 1 has, also, noticed his brother's seemingly odd behaviours? How come he doesn't get a book I can read to him, to explain HIS brother?
So I've decided to flesh out an outline of this new book that needs to be written. Maybe somebody with actual writing skills can help me make this thing a reality.
Part 1: What is "being neurotypical"?
a. Why are some people neurotypical?
b. General behaviours
c. Is there a cure for being neurotypical?
Part 2: Odd Behaviours
a. Why doesn't my brother or sister ever stop talking?
b. Why does my brother or sister want to play with other kids?
c. Why doesn't my brother or sister like BART trains?
d. Why does my brother or sister keep asking me questions when I don't want to answer them?
e. How can my brother or sister be in the same room with parmesan cheese and not want to throw up?
f. Why doesn't my brother or sister understand how awesome elevators are?
Part 3: So how are you feeling?
a. What you can do
b. Will my brother or sister always be like this?
c. Does your brother or sister ever embarrass you?
What do you guys think? Can you think of anything I left out?
Here, I got us started with a cover:
blogginglily 48p · 627 weeks ago
Flannery · 627 weeks ago
kermommy 25p · 627 weeks ago
Kristi · 627 weeks ago
Lisa · 627 weeks ago
The one thing that I often hear in my house is 'Why does he need so much of your time? etc' so could there be a little bit in it about how sometimes parents have to give the ASD child a bit more attention than the Nt child.
Meredith · 627 weeks ago
akbutler 65p · 627 weeks ago
Michelle · 627 weeks ago
How about: "Why does my sibling like PDA (public displays of affection)?"
Cactusinyrpants 59p · 627 weeks ago
Kerri · 627 weeks ago
mylifeaslucille 28p · 627 weeks ago
Deciphering Morgan · 627 weeks ago
andrea · 627 weeks ago
smili76 42p · 627 weeks ago
Monica · 627 weeks ago
whacamolemom 53p · 627 weeks ago
Leigh Merryday · 627 weeks ago
b1lparaquat 17p · 627 weeks ago
Tell you what... you write the awesome book, and I'll be in charge of the talking spreadsheet.
stimeyland 92p · 627 weeks ago
flirtingwithnormal 27p · 627 weeks ago
Why does my brother or sister like to talk on the phone?
Why does my brother or sister go to play dates/birthday parties/sleepovers?
Why does my brother or sister not mind how loud the school cafeteria is?
Wouldn't my brother or sister get more exercise if they flapped?
jodiannink 11p · 627 weeks ago
Joeymom · 627 weeks ago
Shannon · 627 weeks ago
@dkotucker · 627 weeks ago
worldsworstmoms 28p · 627 weeks ago
Silvia · 627 weeks ago
Eva · 626 weeks ago
jennysaulavila 8p · 626 weeks ago
jennysaulavila 8p · 626 weeks ago
Kablooey · 626 weeks ago
Gretchen Gustafson Shea · 608 weeks ago