One of the
main features of autism is difficulty with social relationships. This means that friendships often don’t come
easy for many on the spectrum. My son's relationship with other kids is a bit unique. At
school, Ben is a bit of a celebrity because he’s a teacher’s kid. Everyone at the school knows me, and
therefore everyone knows Ben. Each day when we come to school, several kids stop to say hi as we walk through the hallways. I always remind Ben to say hello back, but often he runs straight past them on his quest to get to the front of the breakfast line or to his favorite center, the Legos. No matter where he goes, kids seem to gravitate towards him. Ben is in
the before and after school program, and those children dote on him constantly. I am so grateful that these children seem to genuinely enjoy my son, but I remind myself that he’s five and he’s adorable, so
when he acts differently or cries, the children are quick to reassure him and
help to guide him to whatever he needs to be doing. Still, I worry.
How tolerant will children be as he gets older and his differences
become less socially acceptable? Will children still want to be his friend, especially if he has a hard time showing that he's interested in being a friend too? One day
a child found out that Ben was my son and told me confidingly, “Ben’s
weird.”
“Ben’s just a different kind of
learner,” I quickly corrected him, but the worry continued to grow. How many other children are already viewing
him in this light? I know I can’t
protect him forever. Which leads me to
today…
