It’s been a while, and I have new followers. That means I have an excuse to babble about family again!
I love my family so much.
As of 2018, there is:
Me
Gecko: 30 something. White Canadian Christian with ADHD and an Anxiety Disorder. Very, very Aromantic and Asexual. Likes lizards, robots, history (esp. linguistics, fashion, and architecture), X-Men, and the Batfamily. Oh yeah, also female.
Family I Made
The Husband: I married this guy! It was a very good choice. He’s an Autistic Computer Programmer whose current special interest is a business structure called Holacracy. (Which apparently has an ‘a’ in the middle?? I’ve never seen it written down before!) He is the most patient, stable human on the planet. You’ve never met anyone like him. He’s amazing.
Eldest: 8 year old boy with giant hair. Hair can only be tamed with lots of gel, which I am afraid of. I do not like things with scents. He’s Autistic AND has ADHD. Current interests – Minecraft, black holes, advanced math, and environmentalism. Also loves the colour pink, romance, destroying all the kleenex in my house, and drawing on the whiteboard. Awesome kid.
Tiny: 5 year old boy who likes to cuddle. Likes video games, youtube videos, Paw Patrol, and playing with bubbles. Doesn’t like eating. Only member of family with people skills – bribes people with cuteness and the promise of kisses. Spends a lot of time on my lap, making it impossible for me to make Tumblr posts. Such a great kid.
Family That Made Me
Papa: Bible Camp director who is frustratingly smarter than me. I’ve spent my entire life trying to catch up, while he was bewilderedly telling me I was perfect as I was. Designs his own board games. Very ADHD. Got a Computer Science degree, realized that it involved ZERO (0) at risk or mentally disabled kids, and chose a life of poverty and children. Has been a daycare worker, an educational assistant, a missionary, a camp directer, and a variety of volunteer positions, as well as other jobs to make enough money to support us. My role model and one of my favourite people.
Mama: One of 8 children who taught herself how to parent so she could raise us right. She did wonderfully, and was wise enough to tell us when she did it wrong. I’ve learned so much from her, and she’s still the first person I turn to for support.
The Sister Who Lets Me Be Eldest: We unofficially adopted her when she was 18. She’s SUPER ADHD, and super fun. Mature in ways I’ll never be. Childlike in ways I’ll never tire of. Now in a happy relationship, to my neverending joy. Also, I spent 17 years as the eldest and had a hard time adjusting, so she graciously allowed me to keep my title.
The Little Brother: The most loving child I ever met, he’s now a pretty content adult. Loves movies and music and his favourite doll. He has Down Syndrome (and probably Autism). Still gives the best hugs, even if he finds my kids a bit overwhelming and tends to hide from them.
The Very Little Sister: Now in her mid-twenties, but she is 7 years younger than me and will always be very little. My closest friend. An Autistic lifeguard and swim instructor. She’s only an inch taller than me, but her ridiculous amount of muscle dwarfs me. She partially raised my Little Brother, is far too responsible and reliable under pressure, and just blows me away. How can she be this amazing, guys?
Other Important Family
The Aunties: My mama has 4 sisters, all of whom have helped raise me. Best support network a person could ask for.
The Favouritest Cousins: One of The Aunties had 4 kids. The first was a bit too old for me to bond with, but the other three ended up as my best friends. (Before The Littlest Sister was old enough.) Which one is my favourite varies based on who I’m interacting with.
- Weirdest Cousin: Now in Army School. Very, very weird. Brilliant. Baffling. One of the few people I can talk to about my obscure interests. Made the entire reception laugh at my wedding just by walking towards the mike normally. So great.
- Husband’s Best Friend: Possibly likes my husband more than he likes me, which is very annoying. Designs video games and works as a butcher. Cooks the best meat dishes in the world as a hobby. His apartment is the only place i LIKE leaving my house to visit, other than the library.
- The Not Quite As Little Cousin: 2 years older than The Very Little Sister, she grew up as another younger sibling. Then I lived at my Auntie’s for a few years and she became 100% my younger sister. She’s a musician, but I still love her. She recently got married, moved close by, and never, ever visits me. Grrr.
The In-Laws: The Husband came with a family. They’re great, but both sides have been dealing with culture shock for the last 10 years. They’re very quiet, reserved, affluent Mennonites who find appearances important. I’m a loud, neurodivergent, poor kid who only cares about people’s hearts. I think we both like each other, but struggle to show it in ways the other can recognize. They are very good grandparents, though. Also, my Sister-in-Law gave me my first niece last year and I will love her forever for that.
kiragecko 