I’m Thankful For You: My Daughter
(Editor’s Note: This article was provided by Mandy Conner and is part of Cooper’s, ‘I’m Thankful For You’ Campaign.)
This December I want honor and thank my daughter Rilyn. Her love for her sister Katelyn ‘KK’ is unbelievable. My oldest daughter Rilyn is 11 and Katelyn is 10.
Rilyn and Kk are 15 months apart so the majority of her life she has lived and dealt with Autism on a daily basis. There have been parties we had to miss, vacations cut short and nights where no one slept. Through it all, Rilyn continues to love and support her little sister. She recently had to move to a brand new school so that her sister could be in a great program.
In addition, with Rilyn’s approval, she chose to ride the ESE bus with Kk. Most children would throw a fit at having to ride on the “special needs” bus. Not Rilyn. She took this as an opportunity to help her sister, be her voice on the bus and make friends with other children who ride.
In the picture below she is having lunch with Kk in her self contained classroom for the Halloween pizza party. Rilyn always makes sure that Katelyn is included and happy! I know no matter what happens in life she will always protect her little sister/best friend…good times and bad!
I also want to recognize our son Clyde. He is six years old and an AMAZING help to Kk! He’s taught her to do many things…such as how to kick a ball and how to play tag!
Rilyn is the oldest so her independence and support is more than other children are required at a young age. Katelyn being nonverbal has shown a lot of aggression over the years as well. Mostly towards me but there have been day were Rilyn wore a bite mark to school. No matter what she keeps on and follows through with every ABA, PT, OT, AAT therapy method we are using. She’s my kid- therapist!
Oh, and Clyde has taken to sign language to help Kk communicate. She mostly uses Proloque2go but he likes learning anyhow!
Thank you Rilyn! #ImthankfulforRilyn
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This brought tears to my eyes. Our family dynamic is much the same. Our oldest also is 2nd mom, interpreter, protector, etc. at only 5 years old. Her sister is 3 and is also nonverbal ASD with another genetic disorder (her specialist believe) that we have yet to discover. Our youngest is a boy who is 1 and loves both of his sisters so much. My girls are 21 months apart and my oldest has lived in her sisters special needs world with compassion since the day she came home from being born. She amazes me everyday with her compassion and often doesn’t get the credit she deserves for her selflessness. Thank you for sharing this.