Stroke Stroller

I have 2 children, an 8 year old son and a daughter, 18 months. My daughter had a stroke shortly after she was born and has a number of medical problems and development accordingly. As it ages, it requires special equipment (glasses, braces on his legs and one hand, the adaptive stroller) that make it stand out from my son's brothers and sisters, friends. His friends began to ask why she is different, and while we have always been open with him about the challenges of his sister, he seems to have trouble explaining to friends why she is different.

How can I help support to explain the challenges of his sister without putting him in a position where he plays second fiddle to her (we always make sure he gets a special on 1 time with us, Then he remembers that, even if her sister takes a lot of our time, it is still important in the family).

Tell the children that some people are born different, and even if they are still as special as everyone else. The reason she has things on it, because she needs them to move.

I have an autistic brother so I'll be of some help I hope.

Explain it like this ...

Your sister is different because it has a bit more challenging than you and your friends. It is a bit different and develops in a way thats not the same as yours and mine. It needs a little more attention and support than you and me, and we still treat it like a normal human being and it just needs a little help as the rest of you all.

Hope I helped,
Brianna

You talk like a very loving parent! The truth is, children will be children. They can be so mean to each other and then turn around and so warm, caring and compassionate you swear that this was not the same child. Your son is just going to have to handle on its own initiative, even at an early age. I realize it is much easier said than done, but since your only question, it is obvious that your son has a strong support system, and that's all you can do - All Keep On Keepin 'on. And insofar as his feeling as he plays second fiddle, please do not take this way, the bad, but maybe you should give your son a little more credit if you were honest with him from the start, even a very young child is more than capable of "soaking up to par" so to speak.

People are different and have different needs. This is one of the great gifts God has given us different