I Can't Believe I Did It!

This morning over cheerios and my first cup of coffee,  my buddy and I were talking about the countdown this week to the end of Middle School and onto High School this coming August. We moved Aidan midway through grade 6 from his comfortable elementary school in Canada and he took on the challenge of lockers, busy hallways, multiple classrooms,  and a new country in January of 2015.  As parents we knew it would either go very well or very badly - no middle ground.

He has four days left - two of finals and two of fun (that we determined in our sleepy conversation) and he turned away from his bowl and looked at me and said, "I can't believe I did it." 

We can believe it - this is for all the friends, family, teachers and mentors who helped Aidan get there! Success happens when you have nurturing, support and understanding. 

I can ride a bike!

Conquering a mountain trail 

First Day Grade 7 (August 2015)

The "Cool" Kid

Last night as I was driving kids (my full time occupation), the conversation from the back-seat drivers focused on their upcoming year at school.  My youngest son and his bf will be entering grade 8 - the ultimate top of the food chain.  Their combined responses were that while they will enjoy the "elite" status next year, it will be immediately deflated to less than zero when they enter grade 9 (or to translate, Freshmen).  The probability of getting a "wedgey" and the ever popular "hit a Freshman day" was discussed with combined fear and amusement.

My advice to the pair was not to wear "tighty whities" a definite bad choice for the possibility of having your gitch up in your ass-crack, and that they should "hang" more with the bigger brother entering grade 9 this coming year,  (who is Mr. Popular and Autistic).  The response was a resounding yes!

Peers at their current school ask my youngest, Owen, if he is Aidan Allen's brother (my middle son on the Spectrum) - his brother is an asset, not a liability.  Owen's bf (still in the back seat) chimed in that everyone loves Aidan and my plan that they stay close to Aidan in high school was a "boss" plan.

The shift is happening in our society and our upcoming leaders, movers and shakers are not the discriminatory assholes as in my (somewhat) recent high school past.  They pause to understand, to support, to advocate - so different from my experiences.  I am not naive, and know that this situation is not universal.  But there is hope that collectively as humans we will be as welcoming and accepting as the two kids in my back seat.

Owen and his "cool" brother 

Harper, Scout and Aidan

To Kill a Mockingbird still gives me shivers after the nearly forty years since I cracked open its pages and discovered a society that I didn't know existed in my sheltered Northern Ontario town in the late 1970's.  Now my almost fourteen year old son is on that same journey and mesmerized by the scenes that Harper Lee created - full of lush characters, social injustice and the primary message, I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks.

Discrimination, racial segregation, white supremacy were all concepts that Aidan had great difficulty understanding.  While Autism comes with its issues, and identifying and recognizing social nuances is a prime example - my theory about his disbelief of this story is not due to his Autism, it is that he is a great human being who does not judge or differentiate.  I credit much of this to our home and how we have raised him.   Upon first glance from outsiders, we have some white privilege happening - nice house, European vehicles, vacations - but our family and our home is open.  Open in thought, open in opinions, open to lifestyle, open to culture - just open!

Scout and Atticus and Boo opened Aidan's mind to a time and a place that is very different from his own.  A vivid glimpse into how things have been, and unfortunately still today in present day. Ms. Lee published in July of 1960,  and some fifty-seven years later, this classic still reminds us, it educates us and it challenges us to create a world where our emerging leaders - like my son Aidan do not see colour or race or status - they just see folks.