A Different Kind of Normal

For my fourth birthday my parents arranged a puppet show and invited the other children from my playgroup.

I remember watching the video of this party a few years later. While the other children sat in rows, jumping up and down, pushing to be closest to the action, I wouldn’t look. I didn’t understand it. And I didn’t understand the other children’s reactions to it.

I walked to the back of our living room, picking up objects and putting them down, trying my best to ignore what was going on in our home, pretending these unpredictable people and puppets were not really there, that I could carry on as normal, keep a straight face, and block out the confusing sights and sounds and smells until they simply disappeared.

A few months ago, I asked my mom why she had planned the puppet show party, knowing that bringing any sort of boisterous social activity into our home was extremely out of character.

“I thought that’s what normal children liked,” she said. “I wanted you to have a normal childhood. I didn’t want you to be an outcast like I was.”

AN INTRODUCTION…..(how formal)

This book is for everyone. Yes . . . everyone.

So that definitely means YOU.

No, not the person behind you on the bus. Or the child to the left of you in the playground. Or that loud neighbor you can hear shouting at their dog for the twenty-second time today.

Although actually–yes, it IS for them too. But right now YOU are the person I am interested in talking with. And I’m very glad you are here. Thank you.

Now let me ask you this:

Have you ever felt as though you are “DIFFERENT” from other people?

Perhaps you feel like you just don’t “FIT IN”?

Oh, you have? See, we have something in common already.

In fact, I’d challenge you to find just one person who feels happy and confident ALL the time. Because (spoiler alert) that’s not really how growing up works. Actually, that’s not how life works. And it would probably be a bit BORING if it was.

Hello, my name is Abigail and I’m autistic.