At this point, I know many of you are confused or simply don't care. That's fine, but it just struck me as amusing this morning.
Both Elise and Charlotte have what is known as SPD, Sensory Processing Disorder. It means that their brains struggle to regulate sensory input. It can either register abnormally high or abnormally low. For example, a sound can be normal or even unnoticeable to you and it will be WAY too loud for one of the girls, reducing them to cowering or crying. Or, conversely, they can request louder, Louder, LOUDER to the point you think your eardrums will bleed. Same with food, clothing, smells. It can affect any of the senses, and it can present both as over and under-registry, in the same child and even the situation.
Why the heck even bring Rogue into this story?
Because kids with SPD crave either comforting or input, and will take from you. They will install themselves into your pocket and pet your face in a desperate attempt to self-soothe, or crash into you repeatedly on the couch, or rock themselves in your lap, or pick an example...they suck your senses into themselves to regulate (just like Rogue!)... The goal is to teach themselves how to self-regulate without involving others, but as they learn, their parents and caregivers tend to take the brunt of it...emotionally and physically, sometimes as well.
Those with SPD are often hyper aware of other people's emotions, to the point they cannot separate others' emotions from their own. Although they may isolate themselves due to their physical/sensory ups and downs...and can experience an emotional isolation as well...their super powers of emotional reading, can play in their favor and they can be superlative friends because of it. In the face of societal norms...they can give a base of support than no one else can.
They are the rogues of society. But they can be spectacular heroes, too... So before you judge the kid in jammies in the supermarket, or the parent who would love to trade in their parent card, keep in mind, raising superheroes is a lot of work.
My Ellie is Rogue too! I think I like your analogy because Ellie's motor cravings are sometimes very difficult and down right dangerous. (and the oral ones too) Thinking of her as an Xman Superhero is fitting :-)
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