| Jessica and Siobhan at the petting zoo. |
| Sibling to Sibling by Jessica Forrester |
| My Step-daughter Jessica is 14. She has first hand experience with having a sibling with Autism. We wanted to share some of her thoughts and feelings with other siblings as a way to show them that they are not alone. Hopefully Jessica's comments here will help other kids see their siblings from a more positive angle. (I was very impressed by her answers.) |
How do you feel about having a sibling with Autism? It's hard to explain how I feel really... I don't always understand my sister. Most of the time I feel a mix of happiness, surprise, and disappointment. I'm happy that I can learn about Autism and explain it to others. I feel surprised because she's always coming up with new ways to play with things or move around. The disappointment is because I can't always give her hugs and kisses or play with her. How has Autism affected your life? Well, before I knew about Autism, I used to always think that when I saw a kid at the mall or out in public having a tantrum that they were just total brats or in serious need of a nap. Now, however I know that may not be the case, and that the kid might have Autism or something else. What would you do if someone made fun of your sibling? I would do my best to stay calm and go up to the person and explain to them that my sister isn't weird or stupid. She is just a little different because she has Autism. Then I would do my best to explain what Autism is. What advice would you give to other kids with an Autistic brother or sister? The best advice I can give, I think is that when you're playing with them, let them lead instead of you. It's hard at first, but just try to think of it as a big game of "follow the leader", and let them be the leader. I would also find out more about Autism so you can have a better understanding of it. Do you ever feel jealous of your sibling? Truthfully?? Yes I do feel jealous sometimes. I can't help it. She gets a lot of attention and sometimes I feel left out. Sometimes it's because she gets certain foods like special homemade muffins and stuff that are just for her..... But I do get to eat McDonald's, Taco Bell, and Ice cream. She can't because of her special diet. What is the best part about having a sibling with Autism? The best part is all the fund raisers we do. What is the worst part about having a sibling with Autism? The worst part is that they don't always want you around, so they either push you away or run away. How do you think having a sibling with Autism will affect your future? I will know how to react to someone with Autism. And if I wanted to, I could probably get a job working with Autistic children because I would have the experience. |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| Jessica and Siobhan Christmas 2004 |
| Jessica and Siobhan at the park spring 2005 |
