Some people are really NOT going to like this......All of these labels that people are throwing around really got me thinking the other day. Why do we have them, who makes us use them? Have we all become so insecure that the only way to fit in is to have a label? What happened to being a person?
It has just recently been a topic of my daily conversations when my "regular" children were referred to as Neurotypical. I'm not certain but, I am pretty sure I crossed my eye when I heard that. NO, it's not the first time I heard it, with Drs. and my son the words he is not neurotypical are said with some regularity. It took me by surprise that we have now put labels on people who ARE the round peg in the round hole. I guess my whole concern is first and for most all of us are human beings, we all deserve to be treated the same. I know we are not, I know we have to fight for our kids, don't attack me for that. But, why label where labels don't need to be. Not everyone is, or needs to be, in a group heading under a label. My word, look at how many different terms and levels their are for Autism (ASD, on the spectrum, high functioning, nonverbal severe, ASD with PDA, ADHD ,and OCD etc.) I seriously could fill a paragraph with acronyms and new terminology. Will you only speak to me if I fit in your label? Can my kid not play with yours because he is not under your label? In the medical community and with the diagnosis the labels and acronyms help stream line research and medical protocol. To me outside of schools and Drs. offices it should be left up to my discretion to label or not label him. Why are so many parents using labels out of the medical or educational realm? (educational is for schools and social groups on line or other wise, as I feel that we are educating others)
My son is my son he's different, you can see that fairly easily. My daughters are my daughters they blend in I guess you could say. Isn't enough that we get excluded and pointed out for, hair, make-up, clothes, speech, do we really need to go one more step and walk around with big glowing A's hovering over us. I mean its pretty dang obvious we do not fit the mold. We as parents are not as "put together" (unless you are a Rainbows and Unicorn mom)as others, we are strung out, worn out, one more lecture on how "technically it's not the end of summer mom" and we might snap. But what we all want is acceptance and understanding and a little grace. I assume I am different because labels don't make me feel special, it is not a badge of honor I ever wanted. Love me and my kid because we are human. We are just like you, we have the same struggles you do. It's just that our kids stay around longer in the troubles you had at 2,3,4 & 5. It's the same, you can remember, if you let yourself. If I feel the need to let you know my child's medical needs, I will let you know.
Perhaps I live in a fairly tail land but to me there is no difference in what I do than in what any parent does. We struggle, we fight, we love, we enjoy, we get knocked down and get right back up again. Just as I feel that people do not need to walk around introducing themselves as "Hi, I'm Tom I'm gay and have a husband with 2 normal kids" to find acceptance nor do I feel the need to say "Hi, I'm Karen, I'm straight have a husband and 3 kids one is autistic and 2 are not" to find acceptance. My label rant is for everyone who is so concerned about "stepping on toes" and hurting feelings that we have become so damn "politically correct" we are going BACKWARDS in society. WE are segregating ourselves. WE made the labels, We are the ones who say if you don't have this label you don't belong. If we all stopped trying to "fit in" and accept people for just being a human being then maybe just maybe we wouldn't need to be so PC all the time. Maybe you could love and respect someone with any type of difference. Maybe there would be less judgement and more conversations. I realize ignorance is out there and it always will be. But, I have to figure there are more of "us" than there are of "them" otherwise the world would not be as advanced.
Beyond religion, and bibles, and living the golden rule. Treat someone as human they deserve as much grace as you do. Our differences don't make us different. They make us unique. That is why no mater how hard you try to package us into labels will we all every fit. Because we are all unique and is my rainbow.
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