Autistic people may not be what some consider “normal,” but who wants to be normal anyway? Autism hasn’t stopped Mitchel Timme from sharing many normal sibling qualities with his brother, Spencer. Spencer shared a YouTube video on some of the things they share together and what it is like to have a brother on the spectrum. Autistic people are capable of amazing things, and Spencer just wants the world to know how special Mitchel is.
Spencer then goes on to talk about how they have lots of little things they do to each other that any other siblings could relate to. From pretending to shoot him in the hall or wrestling when they have a disagreement, they share many of the same experiences that any brother relationship would.
At the same time, Spencer acknowledges the fact that he and Mitchel share a unique bond.
“As my older brother, I guess it’s different. He doesn’t really give me advice on women, or he can’t buy me alcohol. I never got beat up by him all throughout my childhood like most brotherly relationships, but we do have a unique bond. Like most siblings, he still acknowledges that he is the big brother.”
“Our relationship is special. Not one person understands him the way I do. Our bond is strong. He is the most important person to me. I will always protect him, and he IS my brother.
Mitchell is a special human being. And I don’t mean that because he has autism. I mean it because he is one of a kind. He never ceases to amaze me.”
Spencer talks about when Mitchel was eight or nine years old, the doctors told their parents they should stop his therapy because he had reached his max capacity. But that wasn’t the case with Mitchel. He learned to surf, sang a song at his high school graduation, and won a gold medal in the Special Olympics.
Even with all that Mitchel can do, Spencer says it’s something else that impresses him the most.
“He has this ability to make everyone around him happy. My family, my friends he meets, people at the rec center he attends, his workplace and especially me. He makes me a better person. He has taught me to find the joy in the little things. He has taught me patience, understanding and perspective. Although I play the big brother role by the way I take care of him, I do look up to him.”
Spencer also can’t wait for them to share even more normal sibling experiences as they grow older.
“I think about this all the time, I can’t wait ’till he’s the best man at my wedding. When I have kids, their favorite uncle Mitchel will always be up for watching Disney movies and playing pirates or princesses with them. I am so blessed to have him in my life, and here’s to you, Mitchel. Thank you for being my brother and my best friend.”
Check out the full video below, and don’t forget to share it to spread the beautiful message.
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