Neurotypical parents of neurodivergent kids

Unpopular opinion. Sorry, not sorry 🤷‍♀️

These are my thoughts about proud parents of neurodivergent kids… but parents who describe themselves as neurotypical, or think of themselves as “normal”.

Neurodevelopmental conditions are hereditary.

They LITERALLY RUN IN YOUR FAMILY!

If your kids are ND, then you the parents are almost certainly ND as well. Yes, you! And yes, probably both parents, because we NDs tend to settle down with other NDs, on the same wavelength.

Yes, I know we have not always been diagnosed. Personally I was 42 and had previously been misdiagnosed with anxiety states that were actually autistic meltdowns, and depression that was actually autistic burnout.

I knew my brother was autistic. I didn’t realise I was too, until I found out my son was too, and the pennies started to drop. I had no frame of reference for autism without learning disabilities, until my gifted stepchild and my son were both diagnosed with ASD.

It saddens me when people talk about their wonderful neurodivergent kids that they are so proud of, yet they appear to be in utter denial of the fact that this indicates they themselves are likely ND, or at least shouldn’t rule it out without undergoing tests.

I know there are no diagnostic tests for neurotypicality, but it wouldn’t hurt to at least try an online ASD or ADHD test, or even just honestly ask ourselves whether we have any of the traits, for e.g. highly-focussed special interests. If you’ve got an intense hobby or a large collection, for instance, you’re probably autistic.

If parents continue to be oblivious to the fact that neurodevelopmental conditions run in their family, it suggests to me that the awareness and acceptance we’re all trying to promote still isn’t there, and the stigma still is, and internalised ablism 🤷‍♀️