This is why we’ve insisted Harris handle Scout’s care – the feeding, brushing, walking, house-breaking. This is why Scout sleeps in Harris’ room. And I’ll tell you, for a kid who loved to sleep until noon, he hasn’t once complained about the 6:30 AM puppy potty calls. You see, devotion on one side can lead to devotion on the other. Hard work has rewards.

When Harris was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome (in third grade), we needed to embrace and understand a whole gamut of symptoms, issues and actions. Harris wasn’t lazy. Harris isn’t lazy. Harris, like many folks on the Autism Spectrum, has Vestibular Complications. What’s that mean? It means he gets dizzy. He looses balance. In his own words: “Sometimes I don’t feel connected to the earth.”

Think about it. When you’re coming off a 2 week bender do you want someone insisting you go out and play catch? Yeah. Didn’t think so.

Harris will walk (and hike) and we figured the need to exercise Scout would give him a great opportunity to get outside. Little did we know we’d get a bit more. He’s hardly gazelle-like, but it made this mother smile.