Why ill never encourage my son to be "Normal" - 10 minute journal

So, I've been getting a little bit of criticism about my parenting approach. Apparently, I "try too hard to push my son to be different."

Classic comments thrown my way include: “you are teaching him to be weird," "Just be normal," and my favorite.. "It's tough enough growing up, let him fit in, he is going to get made fun of".

You know, I get it .. fitting in and being part of the tribe is an important factor to surviving and thriving in this world, to some extent. But this topic rattles around in my head all the time, and let's dive into how I interpret this lovely word "normal."

What does normal mean? It means conforming to a standard. Think: average, typical, usual, or expected. I tend to equate "normal" with being "average."

Now, who gets to decide this standard of "normal"? That's like asking how many ridiculous theories there are. Isn’t it all made up anyway?

But, let's delve deeper. If "normal" also means "average," let's talk about what that looks like for an average American in today's society.

The average normal person today is drowning in consumer debt. Surprise, surprise!

The average normal person struggles with weight issues and can't find motivation to peel themselves off the couch.

The average normal person lacks a passion they'll chase down relentlessly.

The average normal person accepts their financial struggles, living from paycheck to paycheck, constantly making excuses for why it’ll never change.

The average normal person either hates their job or is jobless, daydreaming about the weekend's sweet release where they can find some solace in alcohol or similar vices to survive the daily grind.

These are just snippets from the variety show of life, but let's pause. Do any of these oh-so-normal traits align with what you'd want to teach your child? Maybe they do, and hey, that's okay. There's no flashing red "wrong" sign here. But personally, none of these characteristics tickle my fancy, and none are things I'm planning to engrave in my child's life guidebook.

So, am I aiming to push my child to be "different"? Absolutely, even at his tender age of 5. The sooner, the better. And as he matures, I'll turn up the volume. I'll always advocate for him to make his own choices. Worried about him being teased? When that day comes, HE gets to choose how to deal with it.

My role? To be his guide, mentor, and support system through those experiences. Who gets to decide what's peculiar and what's not? Outside of the rules we're legally bound to, everything's up for debate. The sooner we start letting our kids see the consequences and rewards for these decisions, the better and stronger they will become.

You can't have it both ways. Successful people stand out; they think differently; they don’t chill in normal-vile.  If we dont encourage our children to think outside the box, what happens? They end up thinking like everyone else. And guess what? They become regular, run-of-the-mill beings, wandering life's alleys wondering what the purpose of it all is.

What “success” actually even means is a story for another day. But one thing is clear to me: being great or even above average in ANY field means doing things differently.

So, if greatness, passion, and success are on the wishlist for our kids, maybe it's about advising them not to succumb to whatever nonsense the internet or TV tries to label as normal behavior. Normal behavior? Shit, that’s about as uplifting as a root canal.

Any thoughts? I’m all for it, Im just another dude with my “not normal” perspective, lets hear yours.

Currently Reading: Collaborative Homeschooling - Matt B
Currently Music Choice: Best Friends - Hillsong young and free