Friendship in a Box

Lucas has been going to sibling workshops for a little while now.  They are fun days for children who are siblings of a child with special needs.  They get to have pop and pizza and play games and do crafts or whatever they want. 

The leaders also do a little subtle talking with the kids about life as they know it.  All the kids, more or less, get what the other kids go through.  Dealing with having their parents and siblings at the hospital, appointments and time spent with their siblings that they might want to have spent on them instead.

When he returned home from the last workshop Lucas was very proud to show us a paper box that he made.  It is a friendship box.  He announced that he could have made it for anyone but he was going to give his to Sophie.  :)

Lucas has a hard time interacting with Sophie because he just doesn't know what to do with her.  It has been difficult for me to see him play with my niece because it shows me the way he would interact with Sophie if she were typical.  As Lucas is getting older he involves her more but it takes alot of encouragement.  I know that he loves her very much, but she is a little bit boring to him. 

Life isn't easy with a sister like Sophie.  However, since he was about four years old he has been explaining to any friends that ask questions that she has CP and doesn't talk or walk, that she eats through a feeding tube and has seizures.  He knows the whole deal and is very proud to tell her story.

Sophie's world revolves around the God of Lucas.  Her biggest smiles are reserved for him and it is true love for her big brother.  So when Lucas brought this little box of friendship for her it was a proud mommy moment and a reminder once again of what a thoughtful, loving brother my Lucas is.