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Has anyone got all normal children?

160 replies

CandyPuff · 23/02/2019 18:30

I have 2. The first one is so easy going. She's a teenager and she's lovely company. She always has been. Full of life and adventure, enthusiastic, chatty

The second one has mental health issues, is anxious. She is argumentative and stubborn. She doesn't want to do anything and wants everything her own way. She doesn't compromise and screams and shouts ALOT.

I don't know what I did wrong with her? She is so hard to parent and she worries and upsets me

OP posts:
BrinkPink · 23/02/2019 20:11

But now we have NT - neuro-typical. Typical just means, approximately, normal. "Normal-brained". If you use NT, I can't see why "normal" is offensive.

There's nothing wrong with not being normal, but it is how a vast array of conditions and disorders are defined - almost by definition.

TheBigFatMermaid · 23/02/2019 20:12

When my DD2 was anxious due to bullying and refusing school, it severely affected my mental health as well as hers. I decided to hoe educate and it was the best thing I ever did.

She will start at a 14-16 unit in a college in September and is looking forward to it.

Could you home educate?

firstbrightday · 23/02/2019 20:14

Lots of girls who have autism are misdiagnosed with OCD. I was. I wasn't diagnosed with autism until I was an adult. I would consider it further and do some research

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SleepyDibillo · 23/02/2019 20:16

Typical doesn't mean normal - it means most common or most frequently occuring. The typical european adult has brown hair, that doesn't mean those with blond, black or red hair are not normal.

BrinkPink · 23/02/2019 20:17

I suppose you can have a normal life and do normal things, while having something not normal about you. Just like it's far from normal to have both legs amputated, but you can still do most normal things.

I do see other people with their apparently more normal kids who seem to find things more straightforward, and think what must that be like. But you know, who's to say they are normal? I find people are less normal the more you get to know them.

Normal normal normal - it's starting to sound weird now.

BrinkPink · 23/02/2019 20:20

Typical doesn't mean normal - it means most common or most frequently occuring.

What does normal mean then? It's roughly the same, it just comes with more of a sense of value judgement. The oxford dictionary definition of normal includes "typical".

CandyPuff · 23/02/2019 20:25

mermaid I would love to home educate...DD school refuses and misses about 3 months/year from school. But I'm a single parent and have to work to pay the mortgage.

OP posts:
CandyPuff · 23/02/2019 20:26

What is ASC mice?

OP posts:
SleepyDibillo · 23/02/2019 20:28

I think it's the sense of value judgement that's exactly the issue though isn't it?

mumwon · 23/02/2019 20:28

what's normal? Who is normal? everybody is different - thank goodness - people/children/adolescence/babies/adults behave differently & react differently - I have never believed what works for one child works for another - I find your attitude rather worrying -

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 23/02/2019 20:29

My mum had two girls. Me and my DSis are similar in so many ways but so different in many ways.

DSis (older) was a shy, quiet child but her confidence grew. I was an outgoing child but have become more reclusive.

DSis suffered from panic attacks as a teenager but is able to cope with work stress. I have been diagnosed with anxiety and depression linked to work but always bumbled along quite happily at school. We do the same job.

We were parented in the same way. We had the same upbringing. We’re just two different people who needed different support at different times.

OP, you have my sympathy for how hard it is to parent DC2. As a teacher, I get how additional needs can make it so much more challenging and tiring. Flowers

mumwon · 23/02/2019 20:29

autistic spectrum condition

LifeImplosionImminent · 23/02/2019 20:30

My youngest teen is what I would call "normal" and some would say "Neurotypical" my eldest seems to be an amalgam of all the developmental disorders - she's not diagnosed but has a million phobias, hates music and loud noise (She says it hurts), couldn't sit on a public chair when she was younger, hyper focuses on a subject or hobby, can't go out on her own most days. Cries hysterically at midnight because a spider is blocking her path, won't speak to strangers especially on the phone, will only eat around 10 things. Swings from ridiculously happy to not being able to get out of her bed. The list goes on and on. Some of this I assume was puberty and hormones but god it was exhausting parenting her. She has got a bit better as she grew out of her teenage years. They are both extremely intelligent and sweet humans though. But yeah, I feel you.

bebeboeuf · 23/02/2019 20:30

I don't think soap meant anything by the thread title.

Isn't it difficult to word things in such a way that no one will jump on to take offence now?

poldarkssecretlover · 23/02/2019 20:31

Sending you ThanksOP. I know a little of how you feel. My dd is 7 (she's an only) and has started scratching herself til it bleeds, refusing to wear anything that doesn't have a very high neckline (she literally won't leave the house so I've had to buy her a load if new tops) and has become very aggressive at home and displaying signs of ocd with obsessive rituals.

I feel utterly exhausted with it every day, I am worried sick about her and long for a straightforward, calm day and a child that is generally happy. I think that's what you mean by "normal" and it's not a crime to feel like that way. We are getting help for her through school, (although apparently she doesn't display any of these behaviours at school) and I am sure you are doing all you can too but as parents we naturally wonder if we've done something wrong. My daughter has a loving family and never lacks anything but something causes her to have anxiety and we're totally baffled by it.

I just want you to know you're not alone. My dh and I get through each day just being thankful for the small achievements- getting her to school, getting her out and about, playing a nice game together etc. Today she helped me unpack my shopping delivery and was very sweet so I am thankful for that and try not to dwell on the three tantrums she had. You just have to take each day at a time and do what you can. You're only human, you don't have all the answers but you're there for her always. That's what matters.

TwinMummy1510 · 23/02/2019 20:33

Neuro-typical isn't offensive because it points directly to the differences in the neurological makeup of individuals. No-one disputes, for example, that individuals on the autistic spectrum have a different neurological structure.

By contrast, asking if your children are "normal" isn't asking simply about the neurological structure of their brain. It covers a far wider remit, including behaviours, thoughts and feelings. As I mentioned earlier, these kinds of different behaviours may be "normal" for some individuals on the spectrum and suggesting that their emotions, thoughts and behaviours aren't normal is deeply insulting. The reason it's so insulting is that anyone who doesn't fit the "normal mould" is typically considered to be dysfunction, substandard and inferior in some way. This is how people on the spectrum have been treated for many years, and continue to battle against. This is why using the word "normal" matters.

The thing is, I totally get how you could use it accidentally and without meaning to cause offence. But having so many people here, many of whom either are on the spectrum or have children with additional needs, point out that it's offensive, it would have been nice to acknowledge that fact.

MN admin clearly thought the same as they offered OP the chance to reword her post - which she declined. That says it all really.

Just as an aside, evidence suggests that how you think of your child has an impact on your parenting. I'd suggest that you stop thinking of your child as abnormal because she is quirky about a cup. She needs your support, not to be privately judged as being weird - which is what you implied.

This is far too close to home for me, this stuff matters on a personal level. I'm out.

Klopptimist · 23/02/2019 20:33

I have more of an issue with the use of "ALOT" than I do with "normal".

bebeboeuf · 23/02/2019 20:34

I can't give you any advice based on my immediate experience as I have one child and not really much to compare to.

Ok the other hand my parents had 5 children and I would say none are normal when you get down to it.
If anything my parents might see me as the normal one.
I certainly am not though.

We are all different but the same in a way and all have different levels of normal.
For us it is normal.
For others it's not normal.

BrinkPink · 23/02/2019 20:35

I think it's the sense of value judgement that's exactly the issue though isn't it?

Yes, so maybe normal will go the way of words like "spastic" and "handicapped" and become taboo, and get replaced by a more neutral seeming word like typical until that also becomes taboo, etc etc.

But we all use normal and use it to try to understand issues, and ask "is this normal or should we see the GP" etc. Because when it comes down to it we know if something is not normal then that could mean needing to get help.

I think it's better to accept if you're not normal in whatever way but also refuse to associate it with lesser value. To reclaim "not normal" rather than take offence.

BrinkPink · 23/02/2019 20:39

Isn't it difficult to word things in such a way that no one will jump on to take offence now?

Yes, it's fecking tiresome. And I am very feminist and lefty and don't tolerate bigotry, racism sexism etc. - but when someone clearly did not mean it in an offensive way and everyone piles on - it's not kind.

poldarkssecretlover · 23/02/2019 20:40

I agree. The poor op is clearly distressed about her child. Give her a break.

CandyPuff · 23/02/2019 20:41

Yes, well I don't know about 'the neurological structure's of my daughter's brain, do I.

'quirky about a cup'?? Fuck off twin

OP posts:
CandyPuff · 23/02/2019 20:42

Flowers Poldark

OP posts:
Lovemusic33 · 23/02/2019 20:43

What is normal?

Mental health issues have always been there but we talk about them more now which is a good thing.

Neither of my children are what some would class as ‘normal’, one has Aspergers, the other has ASD but to me they are normal and my eldest says “what if I am normal and it’s everyone else that has something wrong with them?”. The fact is we are all different, we are all likely to suffer some kind of mental health issue in our life time, we will all face challenges that are out of our control, we will all take deffently paths and that what makes us unique and interesting. Wouldn’t the world be a boring place if we were all the same?

mumwon · 23/02/2019 20:44

firstbrightday - what is interesting is that more girls are diagnosed with ocd than boys. Girls/women present differently, this is hardly surprising if you consider under the DSM 5 - the Diagnostic Manual which describes symptoms for mental disorders - their description (or its predecessors) note that the type of symptoms & time of onset for schizophrenia differs for men & women as does bipolar - so you have to question why in those disorders is there (usually) such a difference between men & women & why should we be surprised about autism. The original diagnosis (both Kanner's & Aspergers) were mainly based on male children (1940's). (adult dd within spectrum) However - I love the quote "100people in room with autism 100 ways of expressing it but they all have things in common"

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