Is My Child Neurodivergent? ~Is Our Whole Family in the Gray Zone?!~
This time, I will delve into how we as parents have navigated the feeling that "my child might have a developmental disability" using the "logic of a lion" and the "empathy of a rabbit."
My children, whom I thought were "a bit different" or "hard to raise."
Looking back, perhaps even I am in the "gray zone"—I will write about the real episodes and realizations of our family.
Knowledge exploration, let's set off again today!
→【Advance! Knowledge Discovery Team】Click here for the main story👉 https://lion-usagi.com/
🦁 Realizations of a Neurodivergent Gray Zone Family
"Developmental disability doesn't mean it's over once you're diagnosed."
However, if you are in the "gray zone" without a formal diagnosis, it's even harder to notice and harder for those around you to understand.
In fact, my eldest son shows signs of SLD (Specific Learning Disorder) and ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder):
He is terrible at calculations. He still calls "math" "arithmetic."
He struggles with listening, speaking, reading, and writing. He is also poor at logical reasoning.
There are many times during conversation when I wonder, "Is he getting this?"
He has strong preferences, like only wanting white rice or being unable to tolerate sunlight.
He is sometimes hypersensitive to light, sound, and smells.
At his 3-year checkup, I was told he "only speaks in single words," and in the first grade, his teacher pointed out he "might have a developmental disability," but I couldn't accept it at the time.
But now I understand. There were indeed many "signs"...
🐰 Rabbit Perspective: Finding "Individual Traits" Through Empathy
My second, third, and fourth sons also have traits that look like ASD or ADHD.
✨ Second son: Always moving and restless, makes impulsive remarks (e.g., "Mom, are you dead!?"😅).
🌀 Third son: Easily distracted and often loses things. His inner thoughts leak out constantly.
🔊 Fourth son: Always tapping something or making noise. He reaches for toys even while drinking milk.
And then there's me, the dad...
I hurt people with my comments without meaning to (e.g., "That outfit looks like a kendo referee"💦).
Repeating the same mistakes, forgetting plans, and causing trouble due to lack of confirmation.
…In other words, my entire family might be a "developmental gray zone family."
🧠 Use Knowledge as an Ally! Books That Make Developmental Disorders Feel More Familiar
For those who have observed their child and thought, "I want to know more about developmental disorders!"
The following books contain a lot of learning that I personally found to be "Aha!" moments👇
📘 The Complete Guide to Developmental Disorders (by Katsumi Gonda)
→ Covers a wide range of basics about developmental disorders! A book that answers what parents "want to know."
📕 Developmental Disorders in Children: What's Important in Parenting and What Not to Do (Supervised by Kenryu Nakamura)
→ Written with concrete ways to face children with developmental disorders, making it very practical!
📗 The Latest Illustrated Book to Support Children with Developmental Disorders
→ Easy to understand with diagrams, and full of ways to handle different characteristics! The illustrations are also approachable◎
📙 A Book to Develop Executive Function in Children with Developmental Disorders
→ Perfect for parents struggling with "how to teach"! Perspectives on how to help them "become able to do it."
📓 Adult Developmental Disorders [ASD/ADHD] Scene-by-Scene Solution Book
→ A book that helped me, as a dad, realize things. It supported me with "troubles as a working adult."
🎯 Advance! The Lion-Rabbit Knowledge Discovery Team!
This article is brought to you by the blog [Advance! Knowledge Discovery Team], which has the theme of "moving forward while learning" as a whole family.
So that we can gently push the back of someone who is struggling.
And so that we can accept our own "characteristics" and those of our loved ones as "I see" without denying them.
With that kind of kindness and strength—
🌟 As strong as a lion,
🌈 As flexible as a rabbit,
🌟 As fun as a gorilla!
Knowledge exploration, let's set off today too!
→ [Advance! Knowledge Discovery Team] Main site here👉 https://lion-usagi.com/
📹 Check out our SNS too!
YouTube: Good Vibes Academy
On the YouTube channel "Good Vibes Academy" run by Lion-Rabbit, we explain any topic in an easy-to-understand way with fun songs and fast-paced rap! Let's update our learning in a fun way with positive energy!
TikTok: Good Vibes Gorilla
At 'Gokigen Gorilla,' run by Lion Usagi on TikTok, we share fun explanations and positive messages through humorous short videos! Let's share some laughter and energy!