A Wish, from a Neurotypical sibling

We usually spend Sundays with my parents, enjoying lunch and some family time together. Yesterday was no different. We packed our Sunday basket early and set off on a warm winter morning. The day was filled with laughter, playful moments, and jokes. By the time dinner ended, everyone was exhausted. The drive home was quiet, and no one spoke for a while.

Then Anvit, my 7-year-old neurotypical son, broke the silence from the front seat beside me.

Anvit: “What does ‘psycho’ mean?”

Me: “It refers to the working of the mind, like in the words ‘psychologist’ or ‘psychotherapist.’”

Anvit: “Oh, okay. Then who is a neurologist?”

Me: “A neurologist is someone who studies how nerves work.”

I paused briefly, considering how best to explain this to a 7-year-old, and continued:

“Think of ‘neuro’ like the wires running in a car. For everything to work properly, there are wires connecting parts of the car to the central control unit. Now imagine ‘psycho’ as the control unit itself, deciding what to do with the information coming from the wires. The nervous system (the ‘neuro’ part) sends loads of information to the brain, and the brain processes that information to carry out tasks. Over time, this shapes how the mind works overall—that’s the ‘psycho’ part.”

Anvit: “Hmm… that makes sense.”

A few seconds of silence passed before he asked another question.

Anvit: “Does Avu have a neuro problem or a psycho problem?”

Until that moment, I hadn’t connected his curiosity to his brother, Avu. My mind raced. Had someone called Avu “psycho”? In the past, other children had used hurtful words like “mental” or “retard” in front of Anvit, and he had managed to control his emotions admirably. Or, perhaps he was simply trying to understand the complex connection between the mind and body?

Me: “Avu doesn’t have a problem. His wiring is just different. It’s like being left-handed—there’s nothing wrong, it’s just different. Or think about people who can’t drive; they’re not broken, they just process things differently.”

Anvit: “But why can’t we take him to a doctor and fix his wiring? If they find the right wires, maybe he could talk, play, or even go to school.”

Me: “The wiring in our bodies is incredibly complex. On top of that, the mind—the control unit that processes information—is like a supercomputer. Scientists still have a long way to go in understanding these intricate systems and how to ‘rewire’ them.”

There was a long silence.

Anvit: “I wish Avu could have a better life. I wish he could go to school, make friends, play sports, ask for what he wants, and talk about his feelings.”

Me: “I’ll pray that your wish comes true.”

The rest of the drive was quiet, but my thoughts were anything but. I wondered about the inner world of children—their boundless curiosity, emotional depth, and the way they perceive things. Anvit’s questions left me reflecting on just how much he understands, even in his own simple, heartfelt way.

#AutismAwareness #NeuroDiversity