Being neurodivergent means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Being neurodivergent to our family just means being normal. It’s hard being different, it’s tough trying to be strong all the time for a kid that’s just like you and trying to tell her one day it will be different and she will have a ton of friends and life will be fantastic and people won’t be assholes-but I can’t. Because I am her. I can’t show her a better future where people are better when people aren’t being better to people like us. So I mask and I stay quiet and keep to myself and try not to make friends because losing them is harder than making them. And making them in a world full of technology- when you are neurodivergent and well-me… it’s even harder. So I write, and I fight for others to get what they need. Racial equality, Reproductive justice, HUMAN RIGHTS, EQUALITY?! We all need to be better humans. Our kids deserve better.

My body isn’t my weight. Food isn’t my issue. Diet culture can starve already. People need to thrive. Fat bodies are human bodies. Fat bodies are beautiful bodies. Fat bodies are capable bodies. Fat bodies are healthy bodies. Fat bodies are strong bodies. Fat bodies are normal bodies just as all bodies are just that. BODIES.

This poem is about a deeply personal experience between my father and I- I wrote it trying to imagine his point of view-but still remain heartbroken by his choices.