What is a “normal life?”

Normal is whatever works for your family. It might look like completing one subject per day, because the focus is so difficult to maintain.It may be side by side supervision, advanced planning for everyday activities, and reading labels for potential allergens.

Or it might not.

Just as there are no two autistic children who are the same, there is no such thing as a normal—or abnormal—family. What’s normal for you may seem completely strange to someone else. So either we’re ALL normal, or we’re all strange. It just depends on how you look at it.

Homeschoolers aren’t considered normal in many circles. Special needs kids are definitely not considered normal by many. Even girls who ride motorcycles or wrestle may not be considered normal. But what IS normal?

Normal is relative, but for Autism Mommas, normal is how ever we are able to help our kids succeed.

Normal might be stimming, noise canceling headphones, or fidget toys in pockets.

It can look like sensory overload meltdowns and sleep training and sitting in the waiting room of the OT’s office for two hours, 3 times. Every. Single. Week.

It may include keeping your kid well-stocked with science kits and encyclopedias, or checking out another dozen books on World War II because it’s the only thing he wants to read about.

It might even be the joy found in hearing your child’s communication app speak to you for the first time.

Joy becomes normal when you find it in every single accomplishment.

Normal life? Yes, I know what that is. So do you.

What makes your normal so much different than someone else’s? Share what’s “Normal” for your family!

This post is linked up with #Write31Days. Visit my Landing Page to read all of the posts in this series.