Two Brothers, Both Perfect

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From day one, my boys have been entirely different.

One loves playing, sports, friends, toys, eating, and sleeping.

The other one…not so much.

One loves parades, fireworks, Easter egg hunts and carving pumpkins. So much so that he can hardly stand waiting.

Pumpkin carving is supposed to be happening tonight, when the whole family is here. But he can’t stand it. He’s just so excited.

It’s the first thing he asked for this morning when he woke up and his immediate request when he got off the bus.

The other one likes watching videos of parades, fireworks, Easter egg hunts and carving pumpkins. But the real thing…not so much.

He loves sounds and colors and paper and letters and owls. He loves when a fly lands on his shoulder and when a house has Christmas lights.

Here is what I will tell you.

One is not less than. One is not more my favorite. One life is not less important than the other. I’m lucky because I have both.

I am so blessed to have a Sawyer and a Cooper. I get to see and live in two different worlds.

One typical and one a bit more magical.

I’ll also say, having one that does all of the typical things, doesn’t take away the sting of having one that doesn’t.

Don’t ever let someone tell you that it should. It’s okay to acknowledge the sting of moments missed.

I hope and pray that one day Cooper will join us. Or at least sit near us. Maybe someday.

Happy pumpkin carving day friends.

Finding Cooper’s Voice is a safe, humorous, caring and honest place where you can celebrate the unique challenges of parenting a special needs child. Because you’re never alone in the struggles you face. And once you find your people, your allies, your village….all the challenges and struggles will seem just a little bit easier. Welcome to our journey. You can also follow us on Facebook, subscribe for exclusive videos, and subscribe to our newsletter.

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Kate Swenson

Kate Swenson lives in Minnesota with her husband Jamie, and four children, Cooper, Sawyer, Harbor and Wynnie. Kate launched Finding Cooper's Voice from her couch while her now 11-year-old son Cooper was being diagnosed with autism. Back then it was a place to write. Today it is a living, thriving community of people who want to not only advocate for autism, but also make the world a better place for individuals with disabilities and their families. Her first book, Forever Boy, will be released, April 5, 2022.

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