At the end of my son Bronson’s baseball game, as the other kids ran off the field with their families, his coach approached us with a smile, holding out a neatly folded uniform.
A uniform for Brantley.
To him, it may have been just an extra uniform, but for me, it meant everything. A chance for Brantley to share in the joy of his brother’s game, to match his brother and best friend as he cheers him on from the sidelines in their upcoming tournaments.
Brantley, usually immersed in his own world, lit up when he saw the jersey and hat. His blue eyes sparkled with excitement as I helped him into the hat, which was nothing short of a miracle. Brantley has always despised hats, pulling them off immediately when we have tried to get him to wear one. But this time, it was different. I think he sensed how special this moment was.
As we walked back to the car, I couldn’t help but appreciate the coach’s gesture. In one simple act he had given Brantley not just a uniform to cheer on his brother, but a sense of belonging, of being part of something bigger than himself. And as a parent, seeing your child find a sense of purpose belonging is one of the greatest gifts of all. #autismfamily #autismlife #autismparents
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