Not Rare, Just Overlooked

It seems like we hear a lot about all the bad things that teen boys do. This is a story about my 16-year-old son, Nate Moore. It’s a story about one teen boy, but I know my son is not that unusual. There are many young men who are kind, considerate and personal heroes in the lives of their families.

Nate is the oldest of our four children. We have three daughters - Mesha, 12, Chelsea, 11, and Amanda, 10. Amanda is autistic. Recently, my son and his hockey team went to regional playoffs in California. This was the first time Nate had been away on a trip like this without a member of the family along. We sent him off with hugs, best wishes and tears. Amanda was with us at the airport. She seemed more quiet than usual and was very tense when told it was time to tell Nate goodbye. He took her in his arms and gave her his usual bear hug (he’s 190 pounds and six feet tall). Her eyes welled with tears and when Nate finally boarded the plane, she sat in the airport window and waved to him until she couldn’t see the plane any more.

Nate called every evening. After he hung up, Amanda cried profusely. She told me Nate was her best friend and she missed him very much. It’s sometimes hard for autistic children to show deep emotion. But whenever Amanda talks about Nate to her teachers, they say her face and eyes light up. Some 16-year-olds usually don’t even give the time of day to their siblings. Nate is good with all his sisters, but especially good with Amanda.

When Nate was 12, I was talking with my friend, Jeanette, about Amanda’s future. She told me she was sure Nate would be responsible for her. I said that he had a future of his own. He wants to play in the National Hockey League. And what about marriage? Would his wife accept having to help take care of Amanda?

Later that evening, Nate asked to see me after dinner - it was important! He told me he had overheard my conversation with Jeanette and was angry with me to think he wouldn’t take care of Amanda or any of his sisters. He said he would have no problem taking care of her.

I wish more 16-year-old boys would have such an outlook on life! In fact, I think they do. We need to take the time to thank and appreciate these special boys in our lives.

MEMO: Your Turn is a feature of the Wednesday and Saturday Opinion pages. To submit a Your Turn column for consideration, contact Rebecca Nappi at 459-5496 or Doug Floyd at 459-5466 or write Your Turn, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615.