Trent's Perspective

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerindex?id=5055588
Retrieved from abcnews.go.com on Decemeber 16, 2009.

I found this video on siblings with autism. It prompted me to write about Taren’s little brother, Trent, and I often wonder how he is affected by autism. We were shopping one day at Walgreens and Trent as usual was chattering away. He greeted just about every person we came into contact with. When we were checking out Trent was still chattering away and talking to the cashiers. People really get a kick out Trent because he is so funny. The cashiers were just loving the boys and saying how cute they were. They also said-about Trent-this one here is a talker isn’t he? Your other child is really quiet. I just said that with Trent, Taren can’t get a word in edgewise. While I was loading the children in the car, Trent who is only four, asked me, “Mommy, why doesn’t bubby talk to me.” That really caught me off guard. How do I autism to a four year old? I tried to explain that bubby has autism and right now his autism doesn’t let him talk to us right now. I explained that right now mommy and his teachers are trying to help him talk or at least communicate with us with pictures. He said, “Why does he have tism? I want him to talk to me and play cars with me.” That really hurt me. At that moment, I couldn’t take just drive off. I had to sit in my car for a few minutes to gather my composure. I just said to him, that I hope that one day he talks to me too.

I realize that there is a possibility that my son may never speak to me but I remain hopeful. When your child doesn’t speak to you, sometimes there is that feeling that a part of your child is missing.