I Choose 'Not Normal'

School starts tomorrow. Yay!! and Boo!!

Yay - because it means that the boys will have something to do all day that won't involve irritating one another simply because they're bored with every other activity. Boo - because we're all going to have to get used to our new schedules. We'll have three to juggle this year as opposed to two like last year.
My kids will be at different schools and I will be at a different job (with any luck - more on that later).
In any case, we're all going to have to be a little more flexible.
It's funny. Each of my sons has a very distinct approach to getting ready for school. Naturally, they are polar opposites. One feels he needs to make sure that he doesn't show up wearing anything he wore last year. That would be a sure indicator of a complete lack of progress. The other flatly refuses to make any noticeable changes to his appearance or his wardrobe for fear that his peers would have social ammunition they might hurl at him for no apparent reason. I drew the line at the 'no haircut' tactic.
It must be hard - to be different and have everyone in the school know it. Rumors spread and kids are mean. Can you imagine? I got teased relentlessly as a teenager and I wasn't clinically different. I just wore embarrassingly thick glasses that were broken (one arm missing) for years, didn't have a stitch of clothing with a worthy designer label, was too smart to be cool and too shy to be noticed by anyone and still the ridicule was relentless.
Ninth grade is hard. a new school. A much bigger school. New teachers, new culture, new expectations, new demands and the creeping idea that maybe a fresh start could create a new history. . .  one that wasn't so prominent in the eyes of the social gate keepers. For my son, the expectations are high and the demands on him will be even higher. He'll try to overcome some of his historically 'Autistic' behaviors and act 'normal'. I just hope he doesn't choose the variety of 'normal' that includes teasing anyone and everyone who's different or has a detectable weak spot. I don't think he will despite that the temptation will be huge. But I'd rather have a school full of kids who mind their own business, get to class and ask a million questions than a group like the one I believe he might be walking into tomorrow because 'normal' in High School usually means 'not very nice.'