The only normal people are the ones you don't know very well. Alfred Adler

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The Wide Range of Normal

As parents, caregivers, and teachers, we often find ourselves asking:
Is this behavior normal?
Is it normal to feel this way?
Am I a normal parent?

And perhaps most honestly—If this is normal, why does it feel so hard, confusing, or exhausting?

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The truth is, “normal” is far more diverse than we give ourselves credit for. It isn’t one-size-fits-all. When it comes to understanding and supporting the children in our lives, there is a wide range of normal that we must learn to navigate.

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Children are not broken, flawed, or “abnormal” people who need to be fixed to fit in. They are unique individuals who often just need better understanding of themselves in order to to thrive and grow into healthy, capable members of their communities.

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When we begin to understand both our child’s and our own “norms”, aka our needs, personalities, and ways of moving through the world, we open the door to stronger relationships, better communication, and a greater sense of peace and enjoyment in daily life.

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Parenting and supporting children is rarely easy. It’s a journey filled with highs and lows, but also deep meaning. Along the way, our goal isn’t to shape our children into who we want them to be, but to help them become who they truly are, and perhaps to grow a little wiser, kinder, and more aware of ourselves, too. 

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