My Little Brother Is a Lovable Tasmanian Devil
“Without my little brother, our family would be a plain slice of whole-grain toast. With him, we’re a jalapeño bundt cake.”
I walked into the kitchen after school to find my brother standing at the kitchen counter taking a test with a stool over his head. The underside of the seat rested on his noggin and his arms stuck out through the sides, wrapping over the legs to write on his paper.
Mom saw me come in and gave me her death glare. I knew what it meant: “Don’t say a word. He said the stool is helping him keep still. Walk straight to your room. I’ll call you when he’s finished.”
This was typical after-school protocol in my house. Because it took my brother four times as long to finish his homework as an average fifth-grader, he needed his space completely silent and free of distractions.
When he was little, his ADHD manifested itself mostly in social settings. He babbled until he was almost three, but when he spoke, his first words were: “More pasta!” Playing with other kids was a challenge. He’d play alone in the sandbox for hours, but he’d get amped up when other kids were around. At two, he earned the nickname “Taz” after the Tasmanian Devil in Looney Tunes. He could zip into any room of the house and put it in shambles in under three minutes.
[Self-Test: Symptoms of Hyperactive Impulsive ADHD in Children]
At 18, my brother’s ADHD and dyslexia still slow him down academically, but he’s much better at making eye contact, respecting personal space, and not interrupting.
Living with my brother has been an adventure. There was the time he flushed Choo-Choo, the plush horse, in the kids’ bathroom and flooded the house. Or the time he poured a Costco-sized bottle of pancake syrup on the kitchen floor and rolled in it. Mom stood 10 feet away folding jeans, oblivious of what was going on. And there was the time that he yanked the fire alarm at California Fitness and got us banned for life.
Without him, our family would be a plain slice of whole-grain toast. With him, we’re a jalapeño bundt cake.
I learn a lot about people when I introduce them to my brother. He is the ultimate test of a person’s patience and character. He has no filter, never stops talking, and always has an opinion. But my brother is something special. My brother has taught me more about love than anyone else. I learned that love can be tough at times. Love is still listening when you can’t stand another word. It’s spending time with your little brother when you have lots of assignments due on Monday. It’s gracefully enduring accidental insults. And it’s watching season 26 of Doctor Who, even though it’s horrid. Love is uncomfortable, and it’s hard to do well, but it’s so worthwhile, especially when you are always the cool, big sister. To my brother, at least.
Recently, I had the privilege of seeing my brother promoted to Eagle Scout, a rank awarded to only four percent of Boy Scouts. Over 100 people came to the ceremony. Cowboys and cowgirls arrived from the ranch where my brother works. Tutors, teachers, and friends from the homeschool co-op were there. Even Bob from our local Vons produce section brought his wife. I’m not joking. Some of the best people on earth were in attendance that night to celebrate my brother’s achievement.
