Anybody ever think they were adopted? Yeah, at one time or another you looked to your left, then to your right and thought, I'm nothing like these people, nothing like them at all.
Having 6 sisters and 3 brothers there was a lot of comparison to make. Sure we all had the blond hair, blue eyes and the same set of parents but beyond that I was definitely the outsider. I was the mouthy one, the emotional one, the one with the weight problem and an astigmatism worthy of some pretty regrettable choices in eye wear.
The biggest difference beyond my unfortunate dress size is my sense of humor. I was the one who wanted to turn tears into laughter, lighten up the moment. Sometimes I had to suppress this drive when a situation called for a more serious demeanor such as a funeral or during a class discussion of a historic tragedy. I visualized everything I heard or read and it usually took on a funny twist. Maybe this was a defense mechanism to prevent further damage to my tortured psyche (ya know, being the fat kid and all) or maybe it is a trait I am blessed with to get me through what was and is to come in my life.
Now you might be picturing me walking around with my head tilted to one side laughing to myself all day. No, that's not quite accurate. I do have a serious side and I access that portion of my personality when I need to but for the most part I am happy with this unusual visual perception of the world. It makes the more trying moments just a little less catastrophic. I have been able to put it to good use during stressful doctor visits, tense
IEP meetings and moments when Daniel was having a particularly bad time of it.
It is a trait that has served me well and one I hope to pass down to my children even though I'm pretty sure there are no genetics involved. Those other people take themselves way to seriously, but as for me I accept this peculiarity about myself as my saving trait.
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What do you consider to be your saving trait?
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Comments (5)
Hello
Its very interesting to read this post all about you.You are a good hearted person who turn tears into laughter and lighten up the moment.This is the most positive side of you.Thank you very much that you have shared this with us.
Eldest has developed the selfsame trait/nervous tic of dropping a laugh-bomb [humor deployments that break a given mood] or joke grenade [humor designed to detonate after a brief pause] at any given interval, much in the same fashion as I do [he has ADHD]. Youngest has attempted - with varying results - to perform likewise [ he has moderate autism].
To this day, I have calluses on my tongue from biting it to keep from saying the precisely wrong thing at the precisely right time - even though the conditions for wit [though inappropriate] may be ideal.
I don't know about genetics, per se, but the surrounding environment is purposely filed with elements of levity, which help to encourage and develop the ability of brevity defense.
One element that helped was posterized images of common expressions put to literal pictures, displayed around the house. Just make sure that the humor/unreality of the expression is evident, even to those who are more literal-minded.
Cheers.
@the_kcar@xanga - I like that, "brevity defense" : )
I have learned to size up the audience before embarking on the delivery but find myself more often than not just going with it, keeping in mind that it would not be proper to appear callous. The IEPs are the most interesting when one person laughs and the other just sits there like you have presented them with a difficult mathamatical equation. I have not figured out which professionals are least likely to appreciate humor. Further observations are needed.
@hoodia gordonii - Thank You so Much!!
@P1AutismMom - The thing is: I don't really know how to size up an audience until someone else manages to break ground, first...and, even then, it's never a sure thing. That may be one trait that youngest and I have in common.