Our son realises that he doesn’t naturally fit into this world. Certainly not in its current format. His attitude is basically
I might wait for the world to come round to my way of thinking but just in case I had better dip my toe in the icy cold water which is the big bad world. It’s something I’m not going to enjoy but it’s probably worth it….
As part of this process we have agreed to visit 12 new places this year. Doesn’t sound a big commitment but in-fact it’s huge for our son. We will have our first new excursion next week….
Tonight we started discussing potential places to visit but somehow the conversation careered off topic. It suddenly became name 12 things you like about you and your life.
I went first and it was a really uncomfortable experience. I do find it difficult to think constructively about myself these days. So much easier thinking about negatives. Anyway for someone who basically hates himself I kinda did ok
- Son
- Memory of my partner
- Family
- Pets
- Friends
- My eyelashes
- I am pretty fit
- I occasionally can be mildly funny
- Musical taste
- Decent imagination
- I’m kinda resilient
- I’m still here
Son went next with his 12 things he likes about his life
- Family
- Jimmy – Dog
- Bluey – Cat
- The gerbils I am going to get for my birthday (mad scramble – news to his dad)
- My dreams (don’t care if people think it’s not right for me to have dreams, I still dream)
- My house
- I’m funny (don’t care if lots of people think otherwise I still think I’m funny)
- I’m cool (don’t care if lots of people think otherwise I still think I’m cool)
- I’m clever (don’t care if lots of people think otherwise I still think I’m clever)
- I’m tall
- My memory (don’t care if lots of people think otherwise I still think I have a good memory)
- My ambition to be a scientist or a zookeeper or a wrestler or a goalkeeper or a falconer or a historian (don’t care if people think I can’t do these things …)
I think this reveals that he is quite comfortable with himself. The problem is that he doesn’t have that much faith in the outside world. I could go on but GERBILS are a pressing concern……
He’s an amazing young man. Kids can be cruel. Done because they were not taught better. Some just because they do not understand. It’s unfortunate some adults are this way too. As long as he believes in himself, he can and will make everyone take notice.
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Some not done
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Absolutely
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So true thank you.
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You are raising him well. Hes smart. He does not need to fit on. He stands out and pretty much thinks, he is outstanding…. without anyone’s approval.
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Thank you for your kind words. I think the stand out bit is his worry. Maybe if he wasn’t dyslexic he might have more confidence in his dealing with the world.
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I think your sons got things under control, he’s happy within himself & that’s the best place to be 😊
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It is. He’s got a better grip on things than his dad.
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Excellent.:))
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Thank you
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I admire the innocence and the way your son looks at the world with peace and faith.
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He does thank you so much.
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I sounds to me like he has a healthy opinion of himself. Good for him..Now dad, let the son be the teacher!!! Obviously, lots of people think you are great as they take the time to read your blog every day and to comment as well!
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Thank you for your kind words.
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Wow, he surely knows what he is and what he wants.
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He does thanks
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Yes, get thee to a pet store immediately!
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Yes it’s mission time.
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He is so fortunate to have a parent who accepts, understands and values him. I can think of dyslexic and / or Aspergers people who have not had this support as children. Good luck with the gerbils. i have heard they can be irritable – and then they bite people.
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Sounds like a few bosses I have had…..
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Who ? The gerbils ? Defies the imagination – a gerbil boss running in his little wheel on his manager’s desk.
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Having experienced a little hamster. Clearly they are super beings capable of much mischief….
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He is well adjusted young man, and nobody is sure at his age how the world will react or are sure about the reception of their ambitions by outsiders.
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So very true. Thanks.
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You’re welcome
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🙏
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Sounds like your son is a very well balanced individual.
Good luck with the gerbils 😉
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I think I need luck with those little teeth monsters….
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When you share your experience of parenthood I always salute you the way you are coping up with it
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Thank you so much.
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Superb inner confidence – subtle enough to drop a hint, too
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Subtle as a brick. Unbelievably the cage is twice as expensive as the little chaps….
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I can well believe it
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🙏
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You’ve done good! And I’m so sorry the gerbils caught
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…. you off guard! Hehe. I think someone needs to get to shopping. 😏😊🙌🏽
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Yes shopping started… hope you are ok…
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I am, thank you. Hope you are doing well today also. 😊
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That’s good. Yes we are ok.
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Great! 😊🙌🏽
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It’s almost my weekly nail colouring session. Can’t wait….
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Haha! You’re too funny. Oh the pressure! 😏😂
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I’m waiting expectantly….
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thank you! 🙂
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Yes the gerbils are cheap but the things like cages are not so cheap. Thank you…
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I’m sure! Have you checked in thrift shops, I’ve seen pet supplies there. Or even garage sales. 😊👍🏼
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Good idea. Will check them out.
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I love the idea and the lists – I love reading his! I love his sense of self – that is really great! And wow, yeah – good thing he brought up those gerbils! 🙂
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Thank you so much. Hope the running is good. Apparently they get grumpy so you need to buy two……
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I’m with your son – i have very little faith in the ‘outside world’. Certainly not the parts i see on the stupid gogglebox/social media/youtube aspects anyway. It saddens me greatly that after 5000 years of so-called ‘civilisation’ we are about as civil to each other generally as we were when we first built a town, maybe less-so? Maybe because we are mostly led by morons and it ‘trickles down’.
I also like your son’s quote! you could let him know that there are a great number of people who think exactly what he said. it’s unlikely, given human history, that the world will come around to his ( our) way of thinking and we do need to try dipping our toe in and there may well be a lot of things we don’t like, but we can find some compensations – wonderful ones, and if we are that lucky, maybe even find someone wonderful to experience them with for a time – however long we are lucky enough to do so.
If the worst comes to the worst we can always live as a hermit! 😉
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Cheers. I think he knows that the world ain’t going to shift much. He’s so tempted to tell it to bugger off.
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Such an overwhelming temptation at times!
When you get to my age you begin to realise that as bad as it is, you probably would not be able to run it any better yourself – it may even be worse if you tried?
Finding an acceptable balance is the trick – it won’t be the same thing for everyone.
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As Star Wars would say balance is everything.
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Finding the right one is a skill few ever master! ( Obi-wan) 😉
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Obi wan failed ….. maybe I need to buy my self a large cloak and start doing some balancing.
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Who’s your Daddy?? 😉
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Be ware of your confirmation bias.
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I will.
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@bereavedandbeingasingleparent: I meant to reply to lwbut, and also I hope that was not insulting. I meant to advise against it, not insolently scold him, you or others.
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It’s ok thought you meant something else anyway.
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Thank you for the warning. 🙂 I confess to being A-ware of it yet not so wary as i probably should be.
Just to be clear though, what specifically, in my many comments above, sparked your advice??
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Thank you
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He’s wonderful and his acceptance of who he is remarkable.
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It is.gets it from his mum.
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Bless you both.
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Thank you
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oh, and he could have asked for ferrets rather than gerbils……..
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That would be the Yorkshire option…
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I look forward to hearing about your excursions to new places. Have you finished the conversation about them since posting?
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No still ongoing.
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“if people think it’s not right for me to have dream” -> ??!?
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Sadly that does seem the case sometimes
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Highly insulting. I have not run across that here, but I have limited experience in the world.
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It’s a funny old world….
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You two have a lot to offer the world. If the world doesn’t take it, it’s the world’s loss. I know I’m thankful for you guys, and Blondie is, too 🙂
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I am genuinely touched. I will tell son when he wakes up. Thank you. xxxx
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Always welcome, my friend. 🙂
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Ps, your eyelashes… 😊😊😊
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Yes I can’t count the number of times son has been told by women that he had eyelashes to die for. Thankfully it’s the only thing he really got from me.
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Sounds like good cat food… 🙂
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Even the cat won’t touch it.
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Good parenting
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Thank you so much.
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Your eyelashes?
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Yes. My only feature worth preserving in the gene pool.
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I doubt that but…eye lashes are good.
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They are….
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