WHY CAN'T YOU BE MORE LIKE.....TONY WALKER

This year my son started middle school. Like me he is having a rough adjustment. But there is one thing that started for him this year that is worse than adjusting to a new school.

"Why can't you be more like your sister?!"

My daughter is autistic. She didn't go to the elementary school that is closest to our home. She went to another school in the district where all the special needs students go. But when she started middle school she goes to the same middle school as everyone else.

She is in 7th & my son is in 6th. One of his teachers is an old teacher of my daughter's. My boy's art teacher is the same art teacher my daughter had last year. I believe he may have another teacher or 2 who has had something to do with my daughter.

One teacher has already said that dealing with my son is a lot different from dealing with my daughter.

So now it begins. My son will be hearing "Why can't you be more like your sister" all the time. I went through the same thing. My brother was loved by everyone. He was nice, polite, & well behaved. I on the other hand was loud, rude, & a wiseass.... I know that may be hard to believe. Going to the same elementary, jr, & high schools as my brother was one thing, but our mother also went to the same schools! Our mother was the quietest student ever. Of course most of the teachers I had remembered my mother. So I got hit with comparisons to both of them all the time. I guess my son being who he is in school is my karma!!

I didn't resent my brother when I got these comparisons but I'll admit sometimes it was a pain. I can see my son is already aggravated & slightly resenting his sister.

Have you ever had to deal with sibling comparisons or were you the one who your sibling was compared to? How did you & your siblings handle it? 

TRUE FAMILY...A SURPRISING LESSON

Tony Walker

What is the true meaning of the word family? Is family a parent, sibling, cousin, etc? Or is it your closest friends? Who do you rely on more? Who is the first person you turn to when you need something?
A buddy of mine was recently sick. His traditional family, the parents and siblings, were NOT there for him. For the first time in his life he asked for help. He didn't get much of it. He was so disappointed and let down. He said he now looks at his family in a much different light.
Another friend of mine is constantly fighting with her family. Her family does nothing but put her down. She recently had a scheduling issue with work where she needed someone to watch her kids for a little while before and after school. When you have something like that going on who do you turn to first? Your family right??? Well her own parents told her that she's crazy if she thinks they're going to watch her kids for her. Do you believe that???
This made me think. I hardly have anything to do with my extended family. I'd rather spend the Holidays with Salbo, Murph, and Boyle than my "real" family. Friends like them are my family as far as I'm concerned.
Tell us what you think. Almost everyone I know has a story about family. This one's fighting with that one over a will. This one is fighting with that one over who gets more attention. Blah blah blah. Do you have a story like this? Do you rely on friends more than family or is your family always there when you need them?