The Courage of Children: Boston and Beyond XXXIII

EDWIN QUEZADA PEGUERO
DAN CESARIO, TEACHER
Joseph P. Tynan Elementary School, Boston, MA
My brother was upset again. He wanted to go outside. I asked my mom,
“Ma, ¿puedo llevar a Liam a caminar?” (Ma, can I take Liam for a walk?)
She nodded, and I opened the door and took Liam for a walk down the
street. After a few minutes, he started to calm down, so I brought him back
inside. On another day, my brother was upset, throwing a fit, and screaming,
and he knocked over a vase, breaking part of it. I wasn’t mad at him. I
simply grabbed his tablet, gave it to him, and started playing a game with
him to calm him down.
“COURAGE MEANS
BEING PATIENT
AND BEING THERE
DURING THE UPS AND
DOWNS THAT PEOPLE
GO THROUGH.”
This is all part of my everyday life with my four-year-old brother. As an older
brother, I am always afraid of my younger brother being hurt by someone else.
I never want him to be hurt by someone else, especially since he has autism.
Having a brother with autism is stressful and a lot of work.
I have to make sure he eats and drinks his formula to get the nutrients he needs,
and I even have to give him medicine. You never know when he could get upset
and throw a fit. Sometimes, I help my mom cook. When Liam is hungry, she
usually makes fries for him, or tostónes, which are flattened fried plantains. They
are very common in the Dominican Republic, and Liam loves them. He enjoys
them so much that sometimes he eats mine! I don’t get mad. I simply let him eat
if he’s still hungry. It’s fine. When he makes a mess, I try to clean it up. He
doesn’t know how to clean up, but he tries when he can. He picks up his blocks
and puts them back into the box. Whenever he’s upset, I try to make him laugh
by tickling him. I try to do anything I can to make him happy.
Some people may find it embarrassing to have a brother with autism. Liam
sometimes misbehaves and isn’t easy to deal with, but I honestly love my
brother. I remind myself to not get angry with him, because he can’t help the
things he does. Being mad and angry isn’t good for his mental health, and it
isn’t good for mine. Courage means being patient and being there during the
ups and downs that people go through. It may not be easy all the time, but I
have courage and don’t give up on him. I thank God for giving me a brother
like Liam. He has made me happier ever since he was born.
THE COURAGE OF CHILDREN: BOSTON AND BEYOND
VOLUME XXXIII
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