Dear Melodramatic Meredith,
My son is neurodivergent. When we are around other kids he just. does. not. fit. in. We walked into a birthday party last week – one of those “everyone in the class has to be invited” gigs. I could feel the tension as we entered and the mothers sneaking bothered glances at one another did not go unnoticed! By the middle of the party, he was sitting there eating cake at a table all by himself. I could not take it anymore, I was mortified. I grabbed our stuff and we were out of there! I know you have said that you felt like you were “too much” as a child, is there anything I can do to help make him more aware?
Signed, An emotionally exhausted momma.
Dear Emotionally Exhausted Momma,
Soooooo…. Unfortunately, I don’t think there’s anything you can do to rush self-awareness. That’s something that comes in it’s own time for us all. Because of this I can’t really provide perspective on this from a personal level – after all, I was unaware at the time! I can speak to it as a mother. In moments similar to these what I have found comfort in was not focusing on the other kids but on my own. I tuned in to the fact that by not being aware, it actually wasn’t bothering them. I focused on the confidence which with they played in active use of their imagination. By focusing on the positives they experience, it stopped being about me. I hope you take comfort in knowing you are not alone and keep searching for your people. How lucky this kiddo is to have a mother that loves him in the way you do!
Take Care,
Meredith Ann
Alternatives with Care 