Why

 

 

     Whenever our daughter hears stories of young people abusing drugs or alcohol, she has a hard time wondering why they would do such a thing. Our daughter would give anything to trade places with an NT (neuro-typical) girl. She recently came to realize that she often feels envious of her little sister for being "normal" as well as smart, thin and beautiful. That any typical kid would take chances with their life, health and safety just to drink or drug themselves into oblivion is beyond our daughter's understanding. Why?
     Of course everyone's life is relative. Neuro-typical kids have problems too. The only thing is they don't have the massive, life-altering reality of a neurological disorder which shapes every aspect of their being from motor and spatial issues to social difficulties, not to mention seizures which can and do occur at any time. And I bet they have a friend or two to share time with. Perhaps a day in someone else's shoes would halt their self-destructive tendencies....and maybe not. As our daughter would say, "That's sad."