I will keep tonights entry short.  Partly out of mercy to those of you who have been very kindly following my Adam's Camp Blog series...and partly because I am really sleepy.  I was stalked last night by a porcupine who decided it needed to rub it's quills up against the screen door and grow and hiss at me for a couple hours starting around midnight.  The reason this prickly demon of the night (hey that sounds like my old trucker handle) decided to do this is unclear.  I imagine it did it because nature hates me.  I mean really really really hates me.  The porcupine
was just another attempt by Mother Nature to break my spirit.  It kind of worked.....





I managed to take one picture of it between freak out sessions.  I googled porcupines while it tormented me and I discovered how truly violent and angry these critters are.  (note:  This may be a blog first...I have never to my knowledge ever typed the word "critter".  I kind of feel like a Dad Gum woodland yokel now.  note 2:  No offense to people who use the word "critter" or for anyone who is a registered yokel.  I am just still a little unnerved by the pokeymonster that is still out there in the woods waiting for me to sprain my ankle so it can sneak up behind me and give me a dose of it's spiky medicine.   note 3:  I am not over-reacting.  (much) This was a really big and angry porcupine.  It looked like it had been bred with CHUD.  note 4:  In case you don't remember CHUD...here you go



Anyways the creature stayed outside our cabin until all hours of the night.  I could not sleep while it was there.  How could I???  What if it "jimmied" the locks and came in and decided to play a very unnatural game of house with me??  I am certain that I would not do well waking up to a porcupine breathing in my face.  If I can't handle snorting Ladybugs...there was no way I could handle coming to death blows with something that looked like this.  So I waited the beast out.  I paced up and down the living room til it decided it had enough fun...then after pooping all over my porch it lumbered back out into the pitch black woods.  I wept myself to sleep....

SO....anyway that is why I am tired tonight.  And....that was why I wanted to keep my entry short tonight.  It appears that I am not doing a very good job of that...


Yesterday Riley (our six year old) asked my wife and I about his brother's autism.  We talked about it...but frankly we were unprepared.  He had finally figured out what was going on with his older bro...and he wanted answers.  Jennifer and I (really it was mostly her...I just nodded and blinked a lot) did the best we could explaining things to him.  It turns out that explaining autism to a six year old was in some ways harder and in some ways easier than explaining it to an adult.

It went something like this:

Riley Roo:  What is it me that Noah is Artustic?

US:  You mean Autistic?

Riley Roo:  Um...yeah.

US: Where did you hear that word?

ROO: Everyone else in my group has a brother or sister who is Awe-tustic.  Is that was Noah is?

US: Oh.  Yeah...that would make sense.  Yes, honey he is autistic.

ROO:  Oh. Cool.

(long pause)

US:  The only thing that it means is that Noah sometimes needs a little extra help. 

ROO: Ok.

US: He is still the same brother you have always known.  He just sometimes needs a little help with some things.

ROO: Ok.

US:  Do you understand?

ROO:  Yeah......

US: Do you have any questions for us?

ROO:  Can he still play with me?

US:  Of course.  He needs you to play with him.  You are the best thing that ever happened to him. 

ROO: Me?

US:  Yes.  You always invite him to join you with other people, you are able to go inside his world and play with him, and you have been his best friend since the day you were born.

ROO: Oh.  Okay.

US:  Always be that way for him.  Even when you get older.  You will always have to be there for him.

ROO: Ok.

US:  Any other questions?

ROO:  Do I have Artism.

US:  Autism.  No sweetie.  You are built like mommy and daddy.  Noah was built in a special way. 

ROO: Oh.

US:  We love you very very very much.  We love you just as much as we love him.  Do you know that?

ROO: Yes.  He just needs a little extra help.

US: Right!

ROO:  Can I have some soda pop?

US:  Lord no!


Sometimes the forgotten group in the journey with children who are living with autism are their siblings.  They are the ones who sometimes get pushed on the back, back, back burner.  They are not on a "special" diet like their brother/sister.  Nor do they get to go to "special" therapy like their sibling.   And people don't get as excited for them when they graduate like they do for their special brother or sister.  These brothers and sisters of special needs children are forced to grow up quicker than most other kids.  They are asked to help out in special ways and to understand complicated adult issues. 

Often times these siblings are the best thing to ever happen to a child with a disability.  Even if they are by age considered to be "younger" they usually are required to eventually become the "older" child.  They have to be Mommy and Daddy's hands, eyes, and ears when their parents are right near by.  These sib's are called to be compassionate, forgiving, and understanding way beyond their years.

This year at camp Riley has really bonded with a group of kids who are just like him.  They are the brothers/sisters of children with Autism.  He has found a crew that is walking the same path as he.  He is part of a very real community.  These "kids" are amazing...and each of them are the front line hero's for their special brother or sister.





Riley Roo and the other "Super-Sib's" of Adam's Camp continue to be the light in their brothers/sisters lives. 



Dear Riley,

Thank God for you.   You are saving your brothers life one day, one game, one smile, one hug, one high five, one mercy, one sharing, one hand holding moment at a time.  People say that you remind them of me.  I scoff at that.  You are way too strong to be compared to me.  You are going to lead a life that will forever be somehow tethered to your bro's.  You are and will forever be a guiding light in his journey...and it some days will not be easy for you.  He needs your never ending joy in his life.

So does everyone.  Make no mistake you will make your mark on Earth.  Thank you for being our son. 

p.s.  If I turn up missing.  Search the woods...I think the porcupines are coming to ge..