Is this normal?

“Is this normal?”

These must be 3 of the most used words by parents.

Your child…

• Will climb on anything and EVERYTHING – “is this normal”
• Wants to catch insects and keep them as pets – “is this normal”
• Has imaginary friends from ghosts, to robots – “is this normal”

“is this normal”, “is this normal”, “is this normal”.

I wonder this countless times every day, trying to imagine other peoples lives and whether they’re afternoons have also fallen into absolute mayhem.

Because let’s be honest, none of us have the foggiest idea what we’re doing. Even when you’ve already had a baby and gone through most of the stages, you’re still as clueless with your 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th child as you were with your 1st.

But do you know what I’ve realised…

THERE IS NO NORMAL

It’s true, there is no universal norm that we should all be comparing our children against.

Every child is totally and utterly unique and rather than panicking if what they’re doing is ‘normal’ we should perhaps be finding ways to celebrate their differences.

I love the phrase “be a flamingo in a flock of pigeons”.  It’s so true.

Letting our children know from a young age that it’s not just ok to be yourself, but amazing. It’s these differences that make us who we are.

The world would be a very boring place if we were all the same.

This here is my Oliver, my adventurous, creature loving, imaginative Oliver. You’re not normal, but none of us are and do you know what, he’s ace just the way he is.