Normal. What does normal mean to you? Is it a good thing? On TV’s sitcoms, the awkward teen wishes he could just have a normal family. The reluctant super-hero wishes he could have a normal life.
Most of the people I hang out with, and this may shock you, aren’t exactly normal. Nor would they ever desire to be. Which, of course, is a lie. There are times we all wish we could be a little more normal, normal gives the illusion of easy, without problems, or obstacles.
This is a Blog Hop. So, hoppers: What do you think? What are the ups and downs of normal? What’s normal anyway? Do you wish for it or abhor it?
Here are a few of my non sequitur thoughts about normal:
“Normal is overrated” says my T-shirt &
“Normal is boring” says my friend, Char.
By giving me the name Mardra, my parents set the stage. Introductions go something like this: “Hi, I’m Mardra.” “Margaret?” “No, Mardra.” “OH Margra.” “No, Mardra.” “Barbara?” “M-A-R-D-R-A, Mardra.” “Ohhh, Mardra. That’s unusual.” Yes. Mardra=Unusual.
In Marcus’ early years, normal became a particularly bad word. Judgments on his progress, on his development, inquiries about his normal. Blech. It always made my skin crawl. Besides, who calls their child normal? Is that supposed to be a compliment?
Also the way people spoke to me, told me what was normal for me to do or feel. “You will grieve the loss of the child you didn’t have,” I was told, “That’s normal.” No one said, “You will love this child, your child, as much as any other mother ever could or will love a child.” To this day I get the feeling that people see the bond between my son and I and I feel like they don’t think it’s, well, normal. And frankly, I think that’s weird.
Marcus is 23 and lives with his parents, a lot like over 6,000,000 other adults in this country. Take that normal!
And lastly, whenever I hear the world normal I can’t help but think about a group my father was a member of while I was a kid. National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). Well, I’m not sure he was an “official” member, but he did have a t-shirt and he did believe in the cause. My childhood wasn’t what some would call…well, you know.
What do you think of when you hear normal? What’s normal to you? Join the hop and share your thoughts!
I think the word “normal” is like a back-handed compliment. It’s typically meant to compliment while at the same time it serves to put down others. When I was a teenager I rejected being “normal” and embraced being “other.” I preferred “strange” to “weird,” though!
Thanks for this great post! My favorite of yours yet.
Thanks Chris!
Hi, I just added my post, Are you sure that’s normal, but did something to the picture for the link. Can I repost?
Yea! You’re all fixed up now. Thanks for joining the Hop – I hope you have a chance to look around at our other hoppers as well. Woop Woop!
I’m behind on my reading and just saw this! Couldn’t write anything in time, but can I say, I am loving reading the posts? It was especially refreshing to visit some new blogs I’d never seen. 🙂
Thank you! I kept it short, I didn’t want to step on the toes of the Downsyndromeblogs-blogSpot-hop 🙂
It’s funny. When I tell people we move every two years or so and it’s no big deal to handle another 6 month or so deployment, I hear things like “is that normal” “How do you do it?”
Well, yes, for us that is normal. And dealing with it is really not an option right? We press on with life like anyone else. I certainly don’t consider it odd or difficult (although some days are certainly better than others and I have a wonderful support system).
But normal? Isn’t that so boring?
Normal for one is not normal for another and those who advocate for my life to be more “normal” just don’t understand it. And that’s ok, I don’t get their normal either.
That is so true, Jennifer – and I also agree, there are many “normal” out there that I too, do not get.