If I could freeze moments in time throughout my life, this memory would be in my top 10.

Just two brothers playing together.

Two boys.

MY boys.

When Jonah was diagnosed with autism at three years old, one of the big “markers” was that he did not ever “use his imagination” or “play pretend.”

And I think I started living with the misconception that these “markers” were permanent…

…That Jonah simply did not have the capability of “imaginative play” and would not ever develop it. (and I had made peace with that.)

He was just “in his own world.”

… and the one day in 2017, Jonah pretended to pour me a cup of coffee.

I was so excited I recorded him doing it.

The first time he started playing with action figures as if they were movie characters.

I recorded it.

The first time he acted out something he saw on a screen…

I recorded it.

Every time he hit another developmental milestone or “inch stone” I made a BIG DEAL about it.

The smallest steps are the BIGGEST victories when progress isn’t guaranteed.

This video is the culmination of years of hard work with developmental playgroups, interactive socialization, and peer understanding and cooperation.

Here we see:

-pretend play.
-interactive play (not just parallel play)
-cooperative play.
-appropriate “Pew Pew Pew-ing!” 🤣

It’s funny. Jonny has really been his “teacher” through all this “work.”

They are playing in Jonny’s room. It is Jonny’s space. Jonah is not allowed to go in there unless Jonny gives him permission.

But Jonny is 13 now and doesn’t always want Jonah in his room (Jonah will typically make a huge mess).

So it is special when Jonny invites Jonah to come play.

It is extra special when Jonah actually WANTS to play the same thing Jonny is playing.

But it is beyond special to see both of my boys using their imaginations to enter their own world together.

It reminds me that with or without me, they share a very special bond.

Not just “brotherhood.”

It reminds me that whatever world they are in, and whatever that world throws at them, they can always enter and face that world…

…together.

And that is something worth remembering.

Original Facebook Post.