One Tuesday night this winter, I was babysitting my friends’ children, three-year-old Eliza* and one-year-old Mitchell.*

I watch them on a weekly basis, so I have a working knowledge of their routines and habits. But on that particular Tuesday, Eliza did something I didn’t expect.

When she noticed her brother Mitchell getting a little fussy around bedtime, she stepped closer to him and looked into his eyes. He grew still. Then she stepped away, her hands partially covering her face. And then …

Older sister. (Used with permission.)

“Ah BOO!” Eliza exclaimed, moving her hands away from her face in a ‘ta-da’ motion. Her expression was confident; she knew this would make her brother happy. It was a modified version of peek-a-boo, and Mitchell loved it. His face lit up. His laughter overflowed, bubbling together with hers.

I wish I could play that sound for you; if you heard it, you wouldn’t be able to help but smile too.

In fact, if there’s ever an election wherein we as a human race decide on an official sound for delight, I would vote for this: a baby boy and his toddler sister, laughing together.

The sound of siblings, enjoying life together as only they can.

***

As regular readers at A Wish Come Clear know, I have one sibling, my brother Willie. He’s two years younger than I am; he’s brilliant, thoughtful, and hilarious. He’s also on the autism spectrum.

Growing up with Willie meant ‘leaving normal.’ It meant knowing that my brother was different from other kids. It meant learning oh-so-early-on how to smooth over the rough waters Willie would leave in his wake.

I’ll be the first to say that sibling relationships aren’t always easy. Here in the grown-up world, it’s not always peek-a-boo fun and games. Far from it. Being Willie’s sister has meant laughter and love, yes, but it’s also meant pain and loss.

I was there when Willie was diagnosed. In fact, it’s my first memory: playing on the jungle gym in the waiting area of the diagnostic center. Waiting for my mother to return. Her holding me; me not knowing why she had tears in her eyes.

I was there when Willie ran away from home as a little boy. I felt the fear of losing him, and the embarrassment of having the police pull him out of the local duck pond.

And I was there when Willie had violent meltdowns as a young adult; he still struggles to control his behavior. I was there when my only brother became a stranger to me.

***

Baby brother. (Used with permission.)

And young as they are, Eliza and Mitchell aren’t exempt from all this. They may not have to face the challenges of autism, but they will have ugly moments. They will fight. They will resent one another, if only for a time. Even if they love each other, they will probably say, “I hate you,” at least once.

So the question isn’t whether or not they’ll have those moments; they are human, so of course they will. The real question is: what will they do afterward?

Will they forgive? Will they apologize? Will they choose love and acceptance, even when bitterness tempts them?

Will they remember the power of shared laughter, the deep-down connection they’ll always have?

I hope so. Because for all the difficulties that have come with being Willie’s sister, I wouldn’t trade it. Not a chance.

***

Even though we’re all grown up, I still know how to make my brother laugh. Willie loves wordplay, and he’s thrilled whenever I put the ‘wrong’ word into the ‘right’ phrase. “I’ve been dreaming of a wish come … clear!” I say, and he’ll crack up.

And I know the best way to get his authentic smile on camera: I reach over and tickle him just before I snap an arms-length photograph. I know these things, and many more.

There’s so much that we don’t know about autism; so much of my brother’s mind is a mystery. And maybe that’s why I cherish ‘ordinary’ moments with Willie. Maybe that’s part of what makes talking on the phone, going for walks, and playing ping pong together so special.

And perhaps that’s why I had to turn away from Eliza and Mitchell as they played peek-a-boo that night. Maybe that’s why I had to wipe happy tears from my eyes.

I didn’t mean to cry, but I couldn’t help it. If you’d been there, I think you would have done the same. And it wasn’t just the sweetness of peek-a-boo, or the unexpected surprise of seeing Eliza comfort her brother.

The sound of their laughter moved me, quite simply, because it was all too familiar.

***

Are you a sibling? Celebrate National Siblings Day (April 10, 2013) by posting a photo of you and your sib on Facebook! Visit The Sibling Leadership Network’s Facebook group to post and learn more.

The Sibling Leadership Network exists to help siblings of individuals with disabilities navigate the challenges they face as family members. We make sure that they’re prepared to advocate along with their brothers and sisters, and we promote the issues that are most important to their families.

***

Fed up with an ‘impossible’ sibling? Tired of a family situation that may never change?

Pick up I Was a Stranger to Beauty (ThinkPiece Publishing).

*If you don’t have a Kindle, don’t worry! You can use Amazon’s (free) Kindle Cloud Reader.

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*Names have been changed.

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Comments

  1. Paul April 10, 2013 at 6:57 PM - Reply

    Your post for National Siblings Day reminded me:
    (1) that I have an amazing sister

    (2) call my amazing sister and wish her a Happy National Siblings Day

    (3) this story –
    “An old rabbi once asked his pupils how they could tell when the night had ended and the day had begun.

    “Could it be,” asked one of the students, “when you can see an animal in the distance and tell whether it’s a sheep or a dog?”

    “No,” answered the rabbi.

    Another asked, “Is it when you can look at a tree in the distance and tell whether it’s a fig tree or a peach tree?”

    “No,” answered the rabbi.

    “Then when is it?” the pupils demanded.

    “It is when you can look on the face of any man or woman and see that it is your sister or brother. Because if you cannot see this, it is still night.””
    – Tales of the Hasidim

    • Caroline McGraw April 10, 2013 at 8:17 PM - Reply

      What a great comment! I love it, Paul … numbers 1, 2, AND 3. 🙂

  2. Mary April 12, 2013 at 2:56 AM - Reply

    Wow love those Hasidic stories love your photos and stories sweet Caroline love my brother with bipolar ism trying to rescue my mom with dementia as he loves his wife and kids But at times love is only a word. And I just hope and pray and wait for the feeling to follow thanks for reminding me

    • Caroline McGraw April 12, 2013 at 3:30 PM - Reply

      You are so welcome, dear friend — and you said it well, too — sometimes the feeling has to follow / ‘catch up’ to the commitment, the promise of love. I can only imagine how much you’re carrying as you care for your family in this time; glad you are here. I will keep you and your family in prayer. <3

  3. Ree Klein April 15, 2013 at 6:37 PM - Reply

    This is my first time to your site, Caroline. I found you on MissMinimalst.com. This was a beautiful post… I don’t have any siblings with disabilities, but what you wrote still rings true. I suppose we’re all “disabled” at one time or another in our lives and it’s a gift to have a sibling who loves you and that you love to lean on.

    Thanks,
    Ree

    • Caroline McGraw April 15, 2013 at 11:24 PM - Reply

      Thank you so much, Ree! Thrilled that you’re here, and that the post spoke out to you. And you said it well – it is, indeed, a priceless gift.

  4. Christy April 17, 2013 at 8:18 PM - Reply

    I just read your guest post over at Miss Minimalist and had to come check out your blog. I am so inspired! I, too, have a younger brother with special needs and I live in North Alabama. I am so excited to continue reading your blog.

    • Caroline McGraw April 17, 2013 at 8:24 PM - Reply

      Christy, welcome! So happy that you’re here. Sounds like we have a lot in common! 🙂

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