Hey there, little buddies!
You all know my son, right? He’s the one who sometimes shouts out answers instead of waiting for his turn. The one who spins around and makes you giggle as he races in circles! He might also be the one who accidentally makes you feel sad when you ask him something and he doesn’t respond. Or maybe he’s the one who can go from a big smile to a scary snarl in a heartbeat, or even the one who gets a bit too excited and accidentally bumps into things, sometimes even knocking over chairs.
I want to share something important with you: my son has autism. I know that word might sound a little confusing now, but it’s good to know for the future. What’s really important is that he truly wants to be friends with each of you. I’ve seen him try to reach out! He asks to play, and sometimes you might not hear him because you’re busy across the room. He might knock over your block tower, but then he’s eager to play a game with you. At home, he even talks about you and calls you his friends!
I’m so grateful for your kindness. Even when he gets frustrated and might push or shout, I notice you’re right there the next day, ready to play and even give him hugs. Your ability to forgive is amazing!
But I do worry. What if one day you start to judge him instead? What if you decide that his outbursts are just too much or that it’s hard to connect with someone who doesn’t always look you in the eye? I fear the moment you might tease him for saying things that don’t make sense or for being a bit different.
Please remember, underneath all that energy and those sometimes confusing behaviors, my son cares a lot about you. He really wants to be your friend!
Did you know that 1 in 68 kids are diagnosed with autism? That means there could be two or three friends in your class who might face similar challenges as my son. For some of you, social interactions can be tough too, and that makes it even harder to understand one another.
The bumps and scrapes my son might cause you will heal with time and your family’s love, but the invisible scars he may carry from unkind words or looks could last much longer.
You have a wonderful opportunity to show compassion to everyone and set a great example for others. While I worry about my son’s future, I truly hope you’ll continue to show him respect, even when he might not always respond the way you expect.
Thank you for being such great friends.
Love,
The Mom of a Special Kid
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