The Never Normal

Jonah “acts weird” — he waves his hands up high in front of his face just like (I know I have said this before) a hippie at a dead show.   “He’s learning sign language, so he is trying to sign,” my dad told his next door neighbor yesterday as Jonah “dead-danced”.

But he might not be signing.  Maybe he just thinks his hands look cool when viewed up against the bright, changing sky.  Or maybe something else entirely, something you and I cannot understand or visualize or comprehend.

My mom lives in a neighborhood at the end of a cul-de-sac where all the neighbors know one another…they talk all the time; people are always asking about Jonah –and she has never mentioned to any of them that Jonah has autism.   I balked at this when I heard of it.   To me, her being secretive about it only perpetuates the idea that we have something to be ashamed of…but my mother says she doesn’t feel like listening to people throw advice and questions and theories at her.

And it’s true — there are people who will e-mail me articles on the possible causes of autism, as though I were somehow striving to be an expert in the field.  These are people who know full well that Andy and I are done having kids.  So, I ask you, why on earth would you send me an article about whether or not I have caused my son to have autism by vaccinating him or by eating tuna fish while pregnant?   I just wish people would think a little sometimes.

Jonah is weird.  I like that he’s weird…that he sees things differently.

He is interesting and beautiful and fun.