My brother Kevin is my life. I say that because he has the best personality and is always loving, although he has bad days. He is mentally disabled. The disability is called Smith Magenis Syndrome also known as "SMS". This syndrome includes behavioral problems, temper tantrums, and random outbursts. SMS chromosomal is a condition related to chromosome 17. Its definitely hard having a mentally challenged brother, but I always manage to live my life like a normal thirteen year old does.

Every teenager wants to have a friend over without their younger siblings bothering them, right? In this case, it doesn't happen like that in my household. One day, I had my friend come over for the first time. Kevin ran right to the door and started talking and talking. Not realizing he is getting on her nerves. I constantly tell my friends that I have a brother with a disability. They are always like," yeah, so what?". My friends think its easy and that its no big deal. Once they are with Kevin for awhile they start noticing that its not the simplest thing in the world. He is always knocking at my bedroom door asking to come in. Like I said in the beginning I have to include him or he will have an outburst, and that kills me to see him go through that. Having a friend over isn't that basic.

Electronics, oh my. Kevin is in love with those silly things, believe me I am too. The first electronic game he got was a Nintendo Ds. He received learning games to plug into the system. Busy fingers are part of Smith Magenis Syndrome, which means if he sees something that is easy to break while in a temper tantrum then he's going to break it without thinking, but regrets it in the end. The past five years, he broke over $2,000 worth of electronics. He always ask to play with my phone or my tablet, I'm just wanting to say "no", but if he doesn't get his own way he flips out, which causes more of a mess. I let him once in awhile, only if I'm sitting next to him.

The last big thing that happens, is in public. Kevin is getting better at going out in public, but in the past, our family days weren't so enjoyable. Whenever we go out to eat, he'd always have to sit next to Dad. If not, he will start his meltdown. He'd have to have chocolate milk, which he finishes before the meal is actually served. Kevin would find something to whine about, even if its ridiculous little things. Then Dad would have to remove him from the dinner table and calm him down in the car. Everybody would stare at him, which if I was them, I would too.
Kevin is Kevin and he isn't going to change. I love him dearly and I try so much to give in and pretend I'm always happy, but sometimes I'm not. He looks so normal on the outside, but in the inside people don't know him. So what if they think he's a punk, they don't know his story. Thats why you gotta love what you have, cause thats what God gave you.