To One Side or the Other of "Normal"

[sakon76]

Squiddle had his two-hour class this morning, and during snack time we ended up sitting by some of the moms/kids that we don't usually, and the discussion meandered, mostly circling about our children and their schedules and what they're eating, as such things are wont to.

Now, apparently a lot of preschools these days are banning peanut butter sandwiches because of the numbers of kids with peanut allergies. Sensible enough, from my point of view. So, since we have a nut and peanut allergy sufferer in our household, I'm able to direct the other moms to SunButter, which is the peanut butter substitute we use, and where it can be purchased (Sprouts and Target, that I'd found so far). Then, oddly, the conversation turned to the carrot sticks Squiddle had (pulled from the garden and washed and quartered before we went to class this morning) and the bread his sandwich was made with (made in our bread machine).

I'm so used to these things that it doesn't really occur to me how "granola" my life may seem from the outside/mainstream perspective. I mean, the bread maker was my Christmas present to Wonderful Husband a few years back. Put the ingredients in, press start, and four hours later you have a nice loaf of bread. But I was even getting questions about how we cut it. Um, using a serrated/bread knife...?

In short, I'm now trying to figure out what "normal" is these days. Because I didn't think I was that far off it, but now I'm not sure.

Comments

[tainry.livejournal.com]

[playswithworms.livejournal.com]

You CUT your bread? Carrots from the ground? Whoa, yeah, that's pretty far out XD

[sakon76.livejournal.com]

:p

[rose0mary.livejournal.com]

"Normal" is individual and personal.
What is "normal" for one person could be something someone else never thought about.
"Normal" in life, is NOT like math, where everything averages out, or where there is a most-often-occuring number/event ... well, there are "normal" events, like birthdays, school/education, graduation, promotions (if one works outside the home), and seasonal changes.

Your normal is something others might strive to emulate - growing vegetables (healthy and organic), teaching Squiddle (and taking him to activities where he can have fun/learn to make friends), having adult conversations with moms (even if it does seem to be based around kids and shopping), quilting (FUN! I crochet myself), making costumes, going out and spending time with hubby (keeping that line of conversation open is very important), making fresh bread from home (all the better to avoid gluten/know exactly what's going into the sandwiches being made) - and all that jazz.

My "normal" is looking forward to what you're willing to share, and (perhaps) grabbing some life lessons from the tidbits shared.

Don't worry if your "normal" looks nothing like the neighbors. They are NOT you, and life would be very boring if there were no differences, no topics of digression, nothing to debate. (granted, sometimes the contrasts can be dangerous or and emotionally harmful, but that can't be avoided if we want to life as people with choices, with freedom, with individualism).