Stereotyped

My sister made a remark earlier in the week, mostly out of humour but it is so true. Both her and I are members of three stereotyped people. We are first of all adopted, second of all pastors kids and third of all we are homeschoolers. Combine that in to one person (or actually two since its both of us) and you have a person that everyone thinks they can understand and explain. So just because I was adopted into a pastors' family and homeschooled my whole life means that you can understand me? Ha! Fat chance! So this blog will be devoted to me clearing up the stereotypes I have been placed in and maybe you'll get to know a little bit more about who I am as a person and not just someone who fits into a category.

Of course going to University this year the pastors' kids stereotype wasn't that bad because a good number of the kids were either a pk or mk. But I have had other instances when people have found out that I am a pk and instantly put me into this group. I am a pastors kid so I have to be perfect, I have to act a certain way and the way that I act is because I am a pastors kid and not because it is actually who I am. Oh and I am going to rebel. Just because I am a pk, I am going to end up rebelling and doing something stupid because all pk's do it eventually right? Because we are so confined we are going to runaway from all that and become someone totally different, right? Wrong. Perhaps that is true about some, maybe many pk's but you know what? I act they way that I act because that who I am. Yes, alot of how I act is influenced by my parents and the church, after all I have people watching me to see if I screw up, as well as people who are watching me and wanting to be like me (like the kids in the preschool class that I worked in). So yes the church is influential in my life but it is not who I am.

Another BIG stereotype is being a schooled at home. One of my favorite videos about homeschooling is found here: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000161649158&v=box_3#!/video/video.php?v=126113226496&ref=share it's on facebook so I apologize to those of you who don't have facebook. I once had someone come down on me, actually my parents, because I was homeschooled. I was a bit shocked and so didn't have time to explain, plus we were in a group of people so a big arguement about me and my family wouldn't be the funnest way to spend the evening. But one reason that I was homeschooled is that in my childhood I had both ADD and ADHD which meant that it was really hard for me to go to school. For a period in grade 1 I actually did attend a Christian school but it was not a good experience for me and so my parents pulled me out. Yes being a pastors kid and homeschooled means that I am more sheltered then most, but you know what? I'm okay with that and I am so blessed that my mom put so much work into me. Unlike some kids, my mom refused to put me on medication to help with my ADD or ADHD problems and instead pretty much trained them out of me, helped me find ways to focus and concentrate. Also I am happy that I was protected from the world of school. I hear lots of bad things both from friends and the news and you know what? I don't believe you have to experience something to know whether it is right or wrong. When the time comes and you have Christ in your heart you will know what is right and wrong and how to handle it. Of course that is my thoughts. Also, unlike most homeschooled kids I did online school, which is actually becoming quiet popular. So I had real teachers, real tests, and I went to a school to do my provincials and I had a grad ceremony and have my grade 12 diploma just as if I had gone to a real school. And guess what? At the same time I was able to spend more time with my family and, if I was ahead in my studies (yes I had due dates as well) then I could take the day off. Oh and I never 'went to school' in my pjs and I worked on my classes from 9am until 3pm with a lunch break and a walk-the-dog recess. I'm a normal kid.

Adopted. Now this is an interesting topic. I don't often bring up this fact but it has come up more and more lately, mostly because people will ask how old my oldest sister is and when they hear she is 39 and that my youngest sister is 17 they usually get this funny look across their faces. Now one thing that I find both amusing and annoying is when people as "What does it feel like being adopted?" it both makes me want to laugh and glare and humourously answer "How does it feel to not be adopted?" I won't go into details now about my adoption story but I will tell you it is one of the foundations of my faith because I see it as a miracle in my life. My parents treat me and love me the same as one of their own kids and I love them and treat them the same as my own parents. Very rarely have I thought about me being adopted because I feel no different then you would feel living with your natural parents. Sure, unlike my little sister, I have memories of when I was a kid before being adopted (even though I was only 3) but I love my family now and as far as I am concerned they are my only and true parents.

So here I am.... yah, I am different then the average kid, sure I may be a bit weird, yes I can be naive but you know what? I wouldn't change my life for the world (its too messed up anyways :P). I am proud to be who I am and I am ME, not a pastors kid, not adopted, not a homeschooler but ME, those labels are only aspects of my life and not just who I am. Perhaps they have helped make me who I am but they are not me, make sense?

So what stereotypes are you in and how do you handle it?