The things we choose to see

Are you normal?  I mean, as in do you think you are normal?

Yes, I know, we all have issues and hangups, but generally speaking we probably regard ourselves as pretty normal and well-balanced people with a fair grip on reality.

I sometimes wonder about the things that might be blatantly obvious to other people that I miss.  Recently someone made quite a nasty comment in front of other people relating to my fondness for tweeting and making a direct correlation to my parenting skills.  I was a little gobsmacked and made my displeasure known after I had recovered, but it really stung.

I also have a friend who knows a family that refuses to acknowledge that their child probably has some serious issues (jeez, is that vague enough for you?) and we probably all know a family like that.  And when it directly impacts on your own child and a rather scary way how would you get the message across to those parents?

My question is this: at what point do you say something to that parent?

Those of you that know me know that I am of the bull-in-a-china-shop variety (and I always regret it afterwards).   I made a comment to a friend recently and she took it to heart and is thankfully still speaking to me.  But what would have happened if she chose to ignore me?

Which brings me back to normal.  I think my family is pretty normal, but what if we’re completely insane (read: me) and everyone’s just too damn petrified of us to say anything?

Maybe we’re just quirky.  I read somewhere recently that you shouldn’t leave old age to be eccentric, so I’m going to embrace that and be normal but quirky and slightly eccentric!

How’s that?

12 thoughts on “The things we choose to see”

  1. Tough question about when to talk to the parents. I had occasion recently to talk to a parent about what I perceived as very dangerous behaviour. I debated whether to say anything and then decided that if something happened as a result of this behaviour and I had done nothing to stop it, I would never forgive myself. So I spoke to the parent, quietly and privately from a stance of compassion and education and not wanting any harm to befall them. I was very nervous about doing it but I’m glad I did it. The parent took it very well and actually thanked me for the warning and changed the behaviour.

    As for the quirkiness, one of my favourite poems is Warning by Jenny Joseph (http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/warning/) which is all about practising for being eccentric now so you don’t surprise people by being eccentric when you are old.

  2. I love that you are so honest.
    It’s sad that some people refuse to ‘see’ problems,etc.
    I hope I am normal,but think I do lean towards the totally nuts side often

  3. I like your honesty too. And I also do the foot-in-mouth/bull-in-China-shop thing. Hence I can count my true friends on half a hand! I always pre-empt my foot-in-mouth with ” This probably is none of my business so you can tell me to feck off whenever you feel like it, but “Ek wil iets se en ek gaan dit se.” It’s sometimes the last time I speak to people, but hey . . . Life is too short – Ask me, I KNOW.

  4. I’m a nut and if you don’t believe me I’ll show you my passport!
    Seriously though, I’m like a yo-yo on the normal to ecentric scale. I have habits and rituals that are socially considered “normal”and then I’m just plain wacky (can you be plainly whacky?) and rather an exhibionist. My dress sense ranges from classic to eccentric depending on my mood. In fact I’d be more eccentric if I could fit into the things I really want to fit into. As to my parenting style, well I’m progressive. Does that make me eccentric? I think not. I think it makes me a realist.

    Anyway, ‘normal’ is for the sheep. On that scale I’d be the purple cow.

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