N is for ... Normal

Now there is an oxymoron just waiting, coming from a homeschool mom.

Hmmmm...

I don't know what normal is exactly, but it seems we all just want to be "normal". Does that mean that we don't:

stand out in a crowd

have strong convictions and stand up for them

have freedom of self (in a positive way) 

Does it really even matter if we are "normal"? Not to me it doesn't. It is such a relative term- how can it even be defined outside of our culture. I feel that our cultural norms are way out of alignment with what I see as "normal" so I must be abnormal/different/weird. I don't want to be put in a box, but more importantly, I do NOT want my kids to be put in one.

Is it somehow wrong or bad parenting to take your kids to the store dressed up in whatever they feel the need to wear, even if it is a Superman costume in say March? I find it much more important that they are clean, healthy, and polite. 

Kids don't think there is anything wrong with being themselves, until we tell them that it isn't "normal". Who cares if my outfit is atrocious, it's comfortable. Who really decided that a brown and yellow plaid shirt, that is super cool by the way because my grandma just got it for me, does not go with my red and white favorite comfy shorts. Try explaining that one to your 5 year old boy. Good Luck!!

Labels...they are everywhere.

This is another this that really hits me personally. Well we already know that I am on the weirdo homeschool lady list.  :)  A "label" that I am proud to wear. Let me throw out a bit of my weirdo for a minute. Everything seems to be so specialized that we lose sight of the big picture. Details, details! Yes they are important. Take a beautiful flower for example. It is surely beautiful, but if you look up and out over the field it is growing in, it is breathtaking. God's beautiful creation. It continually awes me!

Now lets look at when the details are a bit less important than the big picture. Going to the doctor for a sliver in your foot and they are so focused on that one detail that they fail to notice the ax sticking out of your forehead and even if they did notice there is nothing they could do anyway because that is not their "specialty". 

Or, a child with a few sensory issues that must be labeled so that they can get specialized treatment. I can agree with that, but what happens when society puts that label on them as their identity. 

You know the ADHD/autistic/aspie/diabetic/epileptic/SPD/whatever kid that lives over by the Jones'. 

What to do? What to do?

I have spent all six years of Luke's life saying, "Luke is just Luke." He beats to his own drum, which is awesome, but it is not always easy for me to understand where he is coming from. My poor guy has already has enough must-have labels for treatments sake. Asthma, allergies (and getting more all the time), eczema (almost never now). 

I would not change my sweet, loving, kind hearted little guy for anything in the world. Luke is Luke and I love him just the way God gave him to me. I just hope that I am not keeping something that could make life easier for him by just loving........Luke for Luke!

       Linking up with Marcy @ Benandme.com for Blogging through the Alphabet.