Special Needs Manual

I have a good friend whose son, Tyler, has special needs. He was originally diagnosed with Cerebral palsy and then later PDD was added. He is eighteen months older than Ashley, and although his needs are very different, in some ways they are very similar. It has been interesting watching him grow and change through the years, knowing that whatever stage he is in, Ashley will soon follow. At times it gives me hope, when Ashley hits a particularly difficult stage, knowing Tyler went through the same thing and it passed. It is always nice to know someone with the same circumstances in their life, to help make the situation a less lonely. It has been great having someone in my life that really gets it. We have been able to vent to each other, share advice, and share the many ups and downs that come with parenting a special needs child. Tyler and Ashley are very different and have very different needs, but we have often joked that they must have received a special needs manual that they are following because so many little quirks are so similar. Obviously, they both have delays in development that most special needs children have, but they both also went through a phase of wanting to be naked at inappropriate times and places, they both used to wander off; they both like to listen to just the beginning of songs, and many other little oddities. They don’t spend enough time together to copy from each other, so it is a bit puzzling. Tyler has always loved to eat ice, and just a few weeks ago, Ashley decided to start eating ice. I’m now convinced they have some secret instruction manual; I just wish I could have a copy of it. Originally posted April 2011