He’s 4, my mighty one.
and already he carries too heavy of a burden as a special needs sibling. He’s perceptive and reads situations and emotions better than most adults. He loves his brother and already has taken on the emotional weight of being a helper and protector.
Don’t misunderstand. He is so very normal too.
He loves, laughs, fights (way too much…) and yells at his brother like all siblings do
but there are the moments where I can tell that Sawyer is becoming aware of the differences.
and he cares, deeply.
We were having a slow morning, Sawyer and I in the living room with Summit watching tv in the play room. Sawyer was scrolling through options on the tv, a peaceful silence echoing in the room. I heard nothing unusual but suddenly Sawyer took off sprinting, running towards the play room like a shot fired.
Perplexed, I ran after him to see Sawyer grabbing the remote to change the show from the beginning of a children’s song as Summit collapsed into hysterical tears. I felt my hands turning palm up in emotional confusion.
Sawyer calmly, quickly put on another show- the cheery tunes beginning. Earnestly he turned, “Look Summit, look, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, you like this-” and started to over energetically sing the theme song, smiling large, eyes locked on his brother.
It worked.
Summit’s tears slowed, stopped and a smile started. He began moving to the song and then started singing.
Crisis over.
It turns out that for some unknown reason Summit put on a show that has a song at the end that always makes him hysterical. He feels so deeply emotional about things I don’t always understand. Although I don’t know why he picked that show, there is something that calls him back, something there that touches him deeply and I love that about him.
And Sawyer, from the other room heard the beginning of that song and rushed back there to comfort his brother. It breaks my heart in such a good way.
I am so grateful and thankful for both of my special children.
So today, on Valentine’s Day, I’m celebrating the love of my son for his brother. To a lifelong connection and friendship that I hope is mutually beneficial and strong and not based on simply caregiving.
Have a beautiful day!
