Average

 Average is defined by the Cambridge Dictionary as a standard or level that is considered to be typical or usual. My life is definitely not standard, and my child is by no means standard either. For this, I am grateful. It sounds horribly boring to be average. In my family we say "average" to talk about the kids at school that are not on the spectrum or disabled. We never use the term normal, because quite frankly, I think that there is no such thing as normal when it comes to people. I often think that the "average" people must live in a life that is like black and white tv. There are contrasts, but never too sharp, and everything is comforting and muted. In terms of difference, while the average people live in the black and white world of Kansas, my family lives in the hi-def colorful world of Oz. Or you could say that our family has fallen down the rabbit hole and we live in Wonderland, a place that most could stand to visit, but few would venture to live. This is where life with a special needs child brings you. It lifts you out of the safety and comfort of the average world and transports you to a new and dizzying land. Some of us get here in a whirlwind like Dorothy, picked up from the life we knew before and thrown into a new one. Others make the choice to fall down the rabbit hole and drink the potions, but however we get here to this magical land of different, we are here. We soak it in. There is ugly, and there is mean, but there is also magic, and kindness and good. There is love like no other, and no matter the mode of transportation or the length of the stay, this place changes you.You see the small things, you celebrate every good thing, and you learn to love and be loved. Once you have been here, you will carry a piece of this place with you everywhere you go. You become magic, and you will always see the magic in people and places around you. You could never really be who you were before, but why would you want to be? This magical place is not just for special needs and their families. You can come and be a part of the magic too. You just have to let go of the constraints of typical or usual and dare to love those that are different, and embrace the differences in everyone around you. Realize that every person is to be loved for who they are and that to be standard is by no means to be better.  Don't settle for average. You were meant for so much more. Take the road less traveled, and you too may end up in a magical place.