(my oldest has become quite interested in what I’ve been writing on my blog, and asked if he could write something sometime.  He was having trouble getting started, so we thought we’d begin with me interviewing him.  These are his responses – some he wrote down himself, some he told to me – but ALL his words.  The boy is wise beyond his years.  I hope he’ll be a frequent guest writer here.)

(and yes, I know he doesn’t have any sisters.  I just love this song from Free to Be You and Me and I thought it fit.)

Interview with a Big Brother

Tell me about yourself

I’m 8 years old going into 3rd grade.  My favorite school subject is reading, my favorite sport is baseball and my favorite video game is Lego Star Wars.

What’s the best thing about being a big brother?

The best thing is that your little brothers are looking up at you as a role model.

What’s the hardest thing?

The hardest thing is that my 4 year old brother can be a little annoying sometimes.

What’s your favorite thing to do with your 4 year old brother?

I like it when my room is clean enough and he can come in and play.

What’s one happy time together with him?

He likes to run and jump over a small couch, so most of the time I do it with him.

What was an unhappy or hard time?

When he is eating he chews with his mouth open which annoys me.

What does it mean to you that your brother is autistic?

It means that his brain developed differently than normal people.

What’s the hardest thing about having a younger brother with autism?

He can’t really control certain situations.  It’s  hard for me because if I’m sitting in the green chair and he wants to sit there, he pretty much gets his way, otherwise he goes off screaming or unhappy.

Is there anything you would change about your relationship?  What would you keep the same forever?

I wish he could control certain situations, so if he was making his silly noises, and someone asked him to stop, he would and ask where he could make those noises.

I would keep what he likes – his Hot Wheels cars and the food he likes – the same because I like them too.  I don’t really want to change his personality.

Imagine it is 20 years from now.  What do you see you and your brothers doing?

I would be 28, and my brothers would be 24 and 21 years old.  So we’d all probably have a car.  I think we’d be sitting on a couch – well, one of us sitting on a chair – watching baseball together.

“Brothers and sisters, sisters and brothers
Each and every one
Sisters and brothers, brothers and sisters
Every mother’s daughter, every father’s son

Ain’t we lucky, everybody
Bein’ everybody’s brother
Ain’t we lucky, everybody
Lookin’ out for one another” – Sisters and Brothers from the Free to Be You and Me soundtrack