A Dad’s Heartbreaking Realization That His Son With Autism Has No Friends

Last updated on: September 27, 2016 at 12:26 pm by Bristol Palin

A Dad’s Heartbreaking Realization That His Son With Autism Has No Friends 2016-09-27T12:26:51-05:00 Bristol Palin

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Screen Shot 2016-09-23 at 10.30.36 AM

Can you imagine the devastating feeling of learning that your child has no friends at school? That they spend lunch time and recess by themselves? That they have no one to invite to their birthday party?

That is exactly what happened to Bob Cornelius when he attended a parent-night at his autistic son’s school.

While reading a project on display completed by his son Christopher, Bob read the heartbreaking words written in response to “Some of my friends are…” Christopher wrote, “no one.”

“Never have five letters cut so deep, and they weren’t even directed at me . . . it was just an overly simplistic statement that spoke volumes,” Bob wrote on Facebook. “And I don’t have a solution. I don’t have an answer. The reality is that I have to rely on the compassion of others to be incredibly understanding in order just to sit next to him, attempt to engage him, and make him feel included.”

While Bob has realized that his 11-year-old doesn’t have many friends, especially when his lack of pals is starkly contrasted with his older brothers’ numerous sleepovers, Bob didn’t know that Christopher understood this difference. While he doesn’t blame his son’s classmates for leaving him out, he is still devastated by the fact that his son doesn’t have a friend and has never had a friend, and he is absolutely aware of this divide.

“And it’s not their fault . . . that’s the saddest part. They were clearly not taught to embrace and accept the differences of others. Not by their teachers, which would have been nice, had they thought to do so, but by their parents. I don’t mean to imply that parents that don’t have this conversation with their kids are bad people, but only that somewhere in between working, soccer practice, and homework, it never occurred to them to have this particular conversation. I’m sure that if Christopher were typical (that’s the word we use instead of ‘normal’… ), I would not have had this conversation with him either.”

I hate this! It breaks my heart.

As a mother, there is nothing I want more for my children than for them to learn to exude Christ’s love to everyone they meet. We have to talk to our children about what it looks like to reach out to those who are different and show them the love of Christ. We must teach them to always be watching out for those who need an extra helping hand or need a friend.

And most importantly, we must model this kind of awareness and love to them on a daily basis.

(Photo: Facebook)

Uncategorized

Previous Post

September 26, 2016

Guess What One Obama Appointee Left Out of Naturalization Oath for New Citizens?

Next Post

September 27, 2016 Unborn Baby ‘Salutes’ Former Marine Dad in Sonogram Image

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category abortion compassion inspiration life military persecution photos Uncategorized

Select a Month June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What book comes after Proverbs?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Ecclesiastes Isaiah Daniel Psalms

Books by This Author Books by Bristol Palin

See All Titles »