Why are we so different by Dyslexia Toby© 2021

I grew up with a huge variation (character) to many including my siblings.

We shared so many things and were afforded the same opportunities.

We went to similar schools for the most part, joined the same or similar clubs!

We all lived under the same roof.

We all ate the same things.

But I always felt different, I’m not alone.

Parents often wonder why their offspring are so different in many ways, and some question their-selves.

I have heard, so many say much of what has been mentioned.

There is absolutely no reason to do this; we are a make-up of genes going back generations.

If we were all born on the same day and all of the same sex would we still be different!

Of course, we would be!

Perhaps understanding why we are so different would be a good place to start.

There are good reasons why we’re so different from each other. And sometimes we need to look deeply at and be more aware of this variation this will help us to be kinder to many including those near and dear, with greater empathy when others actions are different to ours, this will help us when judging others and ourselves in an inappropriate manner.

Some say we are the partly made up from preference and others are honed through experience including episodic events, and to some degree that is the case. But we are a combination of many factors, some beyond change or control.

Some research even points to change through such things as disease (miasam) We are the equal to the sum of the parts of many things, making change a process that is slow to shape and needs lots of nurturing.

So how do we become more excepting of our differences/variants?

Our very DNA means that we are very unlikely to find another that would exactly mirror our views, and in itself presents obstacles and the only way we can truly overcome these such as our early development, education and indeed relationships.

We can succeed if we mastering the art of being  both constructive and compromising in our approach, even if we don’t wholly agree with another’s actions.

It may also be the case where we fail through lack of understanding due to these different trains of thought!

Being aware of our differences is so important as parents, educators and indeed the individual child or adult…this is especially so with those who have a learning difference such as ADD,ADHD,Aspergers, SPD,ODD,OCD,Dyspraxia or Dyslexia.

There are too often comparisons made to those that don’t have any of the above and understanding that we are all different and even researching the various learning needs would be a giant step forward for so many.

Don’t compare like for like as like, this is a pure myth, and in reality does not exist.

If one of your children takes longer to learn to dress or tie shoe laces so be it, be patient and afford them the extra time. The same for educators if the students is slow to finish, change the requirements of that student's workload. Better still change your style of delivery (kinaesthetic).

If your partner has entrenched characteristics offer to compromise, change is always within reach, and far better than the alternatives.

Above all, we need to take a long look at what’s in front of us, solutions are often easy to find, if we take the time to look!

Be protective of those around you and share experience of best practice and in education make sure your concerns of others are understood.

Overlearning is paramount in all cases. Those right-brained students struggling in maths need support, and equally do those that are linear left brained when they struggle in the creative areas of education.

This article had been written by our team, and we have used the work of others in our research. We always suggest that if you are concerned please seek the advice of others.