MISSION PREVIEW
By: Sean

Two Years from now…

Cuyler is 5 and a half and just over a month away from starting grade one at Park School. He was up first this morning going directly to his older brother Campbell’s room excited about the field trip they will be attending with their summer camp. Cam is already awake. “Come on Cuyler, lets go wake up daddy”, says Cam. “Shh Cam…we don’t want to wake up the baby”. Daddy hears the commotion and leaps out of bed before the two can cause too much damage.

The two brothers playfully poke each other going down the stairs, trying to get the other to make a noise and in turn, make Daddy a bit annoyed. Cuyler has recently veered away from his “special” waffles and the two of them have chosen cereal for breakfast.

Mommy and baby soon come downstairs. “When you two are done, your clothes are on your bed”, says Mommy. “Mommy…will you pack an extra pair of shorts for me…in case I have an accident?” asks Cuyler. “Yes honey…your brother will remind you about the bathroom as well”. “Can I wear my soccer jersey to camp?” asks Cuyler. “Not today Cuy, it’s in the wash so it will be clean for your game tonight”, replies Daddy.

The two make a run for the stairs. A minute later, the sound of Green Day’s new album, with the two brothers singing along, comes blaring from the bedrooms.

“Let’s go!” shouts Cuyler as he waits on the porch for Mommy and his siblings. He’s psyched about the trip and can’t wait to get going. They hop into the van and they’re on their way.
Once they arrive at camp, Cuyler gives Mommy a kiss and a hug, and shouts bye to the baby. He and Cam bounce towards the other kids.

It’s 4pm and Mom arrives to pick the boys up. She see’s the yellow bus pull up.
Cam gets off the bus before Cuyler and walks slowly toward Mom as he chats with a buddy. Cuyler comes off a minute later and bounds over to Mom with a smile. “How was it?” Mom asks. “It was fun! I didn’t have an accident. And I didn’t sit with Cam on the bus! I sat with Jack because he’s 5 too.” “Great! I bet it was a lot of fun on the bus!” Mom replies. “Yep…it was. Jack said I could have some of his snack, but I said I’m not supposed to share food so I don’t get a sore tummy.” Cuyler tells her.
“Oh! Great remembering Cuy!” Mom praises.
The all get back in the van and decide what to make for supper.
Daddy comes home at 5:30 and Cam and Cuyler tell him all about the trip.



Five years out

It’s the first day of school. It’s a very nice day out and it’s decided that there is enough time for the Coleman family to walk to school together. Cuyler is starting grade four. He’s excited, however, is a little concerned, as always at this time of the year, about his new teacher and which of his friends will or won’t be in his class. He’s been doing extremely well in school, especially in math, and has spent a good part of the summer reading. Mommy always had new books ready for him and his brother as she could only take so much of the two of them on the guitar and drums.

As they reach the playground, Cam runs off with a couple of friends from his hockey team. “Come on Cuy…Eric and I are going to play King of the Mountain”.
“It’s OK Cam…I want to stay with Mom, Dad and Geneva right now“, replies Cuy. Cuyler loves his little sister, Eva, and is excited about showing her the playground where she will soon be attending JK. For some reason, he is also the only one who calls her by her full name.

Mom and Dad stand by and watch as Cuyler points out the various lines and what grades they represent. He grabs Eva’s hand and walks her towards the fence where the JK’s will line up. “…and this is where you have to stand. You will have to wait for the bell to ring and the teacher to come and get you before you can go in. It will be OK. Mommy, Daddy, or Grandpa will stand and wait with you”.

“Hi Cuy…I’m going to put my backpack down in line…did you want to come?” a little girl interrupts.

“Hi Allie. Uhhh”, Cuyler pauses, looks down at his little sister, then up at his parents.

“It’s OK bud…Mom and I will finish the tour for you”, says Dad.

“OK Allie”, replies Cuy. Before he runs off, Cuyler gives his Dad their ‘family hand shake’ and his Mom a big kiss. “See you later alligator”, shouts Eva. “In a while crocodile”, replies Cuy.


Ten Years out…

Cuyler has started Grade nine this year. He has grown into an above average student. He and his brother Cam who is in grade 10 even have a “friendly” wager on their grades this year. Cam and Cuy are extremely close, possibly closer then most siblings their age. Mom and Dad believe that a large part of this strong relationship is directly linked to Cuylers diagnosis and subsequent therapy.

The biggest concern that a lot of parents have for their children entering high school is the social aspect of it. This is especially concerning when a child with ASD is making the move. Fortunately, Cuyler has tested “off spectrum” for a couple of years now, his EA has not been required since grade six. He still enjoys spending time by himself but by no means is he anti-social. He has a group of friends from his hockey and baseball teams that he hangs out with and he tags along with Cam and his friends quite a bit. Even though he is younger, he is already 4 inches taller then Cam and has been able to get his “little” brother out of a few jams over the summer due to his size alone.

It’s going to be an extremely busy autumn for the family. Cam and Cuy are excited that they are both starting on the high schools junior football team. For some reason, the two of them always seem to play better when on the field together. Dad thinks it’s the healthy competition that brothers seem to have. The two of them have also been practicing hard all summer with their band and are looking forward to the talent show that the music studio is putting on in November. It’s a good thing Dad upgraded the ceiling tiles in the basement or Mom would have gone crazy.

Cuyler enjoys hanging out with his little sister as well where Cam is getting to that age where it’s tough to have his little sister tagging along. Cuy likes walking her to school whenever he can and would walk her home as well…if it wasn’t for football practice.

Friday night is the first dance of the year…Cuylers first high school dance ever. Mom and Dad have invited a few of Cam and Cuys friends over for a BBQ before hand and will chauffeur for the night. Cuyler has had a nervous twinge in his stomach the last week or so anytime he has thought of the dance. He told Cam that he’s going to ask Allie to dance that night and Cam has been bugging him a bit. Cuy sometimes wonders if his nervousness is due to his Autism diagnosis and during a commercial break of CSI: Argentina, asks his Mom and Dad what they think. Mom and Dad look at each other and know right away that the nervousness does not stem from Autism but, like any typical 14 year old boy, from whether Allie will accept his dance request or not.