Quirky is probably the best word to describe him. When he was just one year old, he developed a strange attachment to these fluffy snow boots. He wore them for the entirety of 2009—even during the sweltering summer, paired with shorts and without socks. Let me tell you, those were the smelliest baby feet I’ve ever encountered! It was enough to make my ears burn.
Eventually, he transitioned to a pair of fireman rain boots gifted by a neighbor. He took such pride in his rain gear, ready for whatever the weather had in store. This led to a ridiculous amount of puddle jumping between the ages of 2 and 3! But fashion wasn’t the only area where his uniqueness shone through.
I once opened his toy box only to find it almost empty—I could see the bottom clearly! It took me days to realize he’d packed all his toys into various backpacks, dragging them everywhere with him, even falling asleep on the floor with them still on his back. To this day, he appreciates a well-packed bag.
When he fell ill, his quirks became more pronounced. The adorable little habits he once had morphed into tasks he felt compelled to complete. It’s a glimpse into what childhood OCD can be like. All those little nudges from his brain became overwhelming, insisting he perform certain actions. And while he felt a sense of relief after completing them, he also worried about what others might think.
His struggles are compounded by a tic disorder, causing him to perform repetitive movements and sounds, from eye blinks to throat clearing. When things get particularly intense, his anxiety about being noticed heightens. He enjoys being different, but he definitely doesn’t want to be different in a negative way.
Recently, he’s made strides in managing his condition (I dislike calling it a disorder since it’s merely a part of who he is). Thanks to his weekly visits to a cognitive behavior therapist and countless adjustments in his life, he’s learning to accept this part of himself. This positive change has made his quirks less pervasive, creating a lovely cycle of improvement that I cherish being a part of.
Of course, we still face challenging times, but we also have incredible moments—ones that remind me how much I admire the person he’s becoming. His perspective on life is refreshing. He tends to worry about things other kids don’t even consider, like death and the world’s issues. He’s more accepting of things that others question and expresses his affection openly. Plus, his lack of a filter makes him both honest and endearing.
Last week marked his start of second grade. On the second day, he came downstairs with his shirt inside out and backward. It sparked a brief conversation:
Me: “Oh, so you’re doing that? I didn’t realize it was a school thing too.”
Him: “Yeah, I like it this way.”
Me: “You know you’ll get a lot of questions, right?”
Him: “Maybe, but I think it will be fine.”
Later that day, he returned home with his shirt still inside out but no longer backward.
Me: “Oh, you changed?”
Him: “I got tired of being questioned. Everyone thought I was confused, but really, it was them.”
He’s got it figured out. It’s the rest of the world that struggles to keep up. He’s accustomed to being the curveball in life, the one who challenges the norm. His unique personality, enriched by his quirks, makes him fascinating and even cool.
Now, let’s talk about socks. They rarely match and honestly never have—except for a brief period in kindergarten when I needed to maintain some control in a chaotic household. He would unfold the matching pairs I made and opt for mismatched socks instead. Eventually, I stopped folding socks altogether, and he’d simply pick any two from the laundry, without a care for color or pattern. These days, he’s become more intentional; at least one sock must be tall, preferably bright or patterned, and white socks? Boring!
This quirky approach has become so popular that other parents have thanked me for lightening their own laundry loads, as their kids now refuse to wear matching socks. You’re welcome, but honestly, it’s all him! I couldn’t help but ask him about his sock choices:
Me: “So, what’s the deal with the socks?”
Him: “They don’t match.”
Me: “I know that, but why?”
Him: “Because everything in life doesn’t need to be exactly perfect. It’s okay for things to be different. Different is interesting, and I want an interesting life. Plus, I can never find the matches anyway.”
At that moment, I was overwhelmed with emotion—tears flowed freely. I feel incredibly fortunate to have this amazing soul in my life. I often wonder why he chose me, feeling a mix of fear, excitement, and joy.
I asked him about it too:
Me: “I’m so happy you chose me as your mom.”
Him: “I didn’t. God sent me because He knew we’d be good together.”
And honestly, who can argue with that?
Summary:
In this heartfelt reflection, Emily Johnson shares her experiences raising her wonderfully unique son, who embraces his quirks despite facing challenges like OCD and a tic disorder. Through humor and love, she highlights how his different perspective on life offers valuable lessons in acceptance and individuality. His approach to mismatched socks becomes a metaphor for embracing imperfection and finding joy in being different, reminding us all that an interesting life is one worth living.
Keyphrase: Different is Interesting
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