Big Brother, Little Sister

This past weekend we had my stepson Shawn over for a sleepover. It was such a beautiful experience, and I say it like that because of my daughter's reaction. She looks at Shawn every time he looks away and smiles. She was so excited to have him for two days, and he was wonderful with her. I have been in Shawn's life since he was five years old, and I have watched him change dramatically. I started off with him being officially diagnosed with Autism, and all the challenges finding the right school and adapting him to his unique life with a another mother, a stepmother. He has had his share of behavior issues, which I would be lying if I didn't say they have been a challenge. The amazing thing through all the chaos of autism is that this child has opened my eyes to a new world. A world through his eyes which is amazing and beautiful. Everyone says a child grows up, changes and learns new things. It is part of being a child and growing up. However, to watch Shawn grow means watching him learn out to deal with the world. It is not the way other children learn the world, Shawn has had to overcome fears and learn how to concentrate and adapt to every surrounding he is within. His school is amazing, and I commend special education teachers for their patience and dedication to children of special needs. A quick recap; I watched Shawn go from refusing to eat solid foods and swallow, to eating all new things! I watched him fear swimming to jumping into the pool all on his own. A child who had a meltdown every time we went to Walmart of out shopping, to listening and behaving. Instead of defying authority he is starting to realize he must respect authority. I could list so many more, but it is a different experience to watch him grow as other children.
The beautiful thing is, although Shawn is "different" in his own way, my daughter will never see that in him. She will always love him for who he is, and will never know him as different. Maybe that is a blessing from God.
A touching story; Shawn was in the backseat with Irelyn and she began to get fussy, and I usually have to beg him to put her pacifier in or to hand her a toy. She stopped fussing and I look in the mirror and he had given her a binky and was playing with her. She was smiling ear to ear :)