So, I have brilliant kids. No, seriously. I do. I know every parent thinks they do, but really--mine have IQ tests and they are smart off the charts. One, however, is not an academic. Struggles at his college prep school. Tries to "fit in" but just can't resist calling BS whenever, wherever he sees it--from whoever seems to be disseminating it--regardless of his or her level of authority.
Actually, my other son has a similar reaction to disingenuous-ness. While one can't express an emotion to save his life, the other can't hide one to save his. A weird combination of their father and me.
So as often as I long for their "normalcy" I have to remind myself that I would rather have this. How boring to have two kids so willing to succumb to the status quo. Everyone who ever changed the course of history dared to shake things up. All these years of wishing I had the "normal" kid that I could brag to everyone about (and believe me, every "top dog" thing they did, I did my share of bragging), I now realize that I am happy to have the "different" kids. I am happy to be the mom of the kids who ask questions, who challenge authority, who want to be different.
Is it hard in the moment? Yes. Do I get embarrassed? Yes. Do I wish they raised me to the top of the social ladder? Sometimes. But when I stop and think about it, I would MUCH rather deal with the "difficulty" of raising two thinking, challenging beings, than be the mom of sheep.
Are they energetic? Emotional? Expressive? Sometimes irreverent? Yes. Me? I like to call it verve.
