09/16/2026
I am raising the “weird” kid.
And I am so damn proud.
I believe that my job as a parent is to teach him to be kind and to keep him safe.
Parenting isn’t projection. I don’t need to tell him how to feel, who to grow up to be, how to live out the dreams I didn’t get to have, or any other thing that distracts from raising a healthy and well-loved human who is uniquely them. My upbringing, experiences, trauma, etc. are for me to heal from and not give to my kiddo as some super lame inheritance. It is hard work. Every. Single. Day. But it is the best work.
What that looks like:
He cries when he is sad and isn’t told that “boys don’t cry,” “toughen up,” or “it’s ok” because someone isn’t comfortable with his emotions, or likely their own.
He knows when something feels off or gives him a feeling he isn’t used to, and we talk about it. Why he feels nervous. Why his heart hurts when people he wants to be his friends don’t include him. Why he suddenly is afraid of the wind (we experienced a scary storm while camping).
He has opinions. And is allowed to voice them, respectfully, even if they don’t align with mine.
He is allowed to have and feel the whole spectrum of emotions. He is just not allowed to be mean or take them out on someone else. And he gets to sit with those feelings, learn them. He gets to practice in safe spaces. And make mistakes.
He plays. Long and hard. No screens. Just imagination.
He is slowly learning what he likes. And has the chance to explore this for himself. He gets to make choices for himself.
He dresses himself with no style guidance (but weather guidance is a must). And ROCKS IT, as you can see in the photo!
Too often, our culture tells children (and us) who to be, what to think, how to behave, how to use our time, who to like, what to hate.
Quiet is rewarded, but what about regulated? Compliance is praised, but what about curiosity? “Low maintenance” is celebrated, but what about being whole and supported? Following the trends is the coolest (yeah, I am an elder millennial), but what about following our inner wisdom? We are taught from a very young age that we must quiet our instincts, our emotions, our needs in order to fit in. With what? What are we trying to fit into?
Research tells us that people who aren’t living authentically report higher rates of depression, anxiety, and less satisfaction with their lives. Society wants us to suppress ourselves. At the cost of ourselves.
Could you imagine a world full of people who were taught to feel? To know empathy? To heal? To disagree? To be real? To dress however they want, even if that is shorts with knee-high socks and cowboy boots?
I don’t know that world, but I know a kid…
A kid who's kind because he means it, not because he's scared not to be.
He's weird. I wish we all were.
He is becoming exactly who he is.
