By David Chin, Neuroclastic, December 12, 2021
I’ve been a teacher throughout most of my adult life. I’m dual certified with 17 years of experience as an elementary teacher and 15 years (and counting) as a high school Culinary Arts chef instructor. I have an Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts, a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education, and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction. I turned 61 last October.
Although my parents knew that I was different as a child, I grew up in a very conservative family. My father was a doctor in the U.S. military service, and during the 60’s the thought of taking one’s child to see a psychiatrist just wasn’t done. As a result of this attitude, my parents decided early on that they would be especially firm with me.
Whenever I violently shook my head or flapped my hands (which I now understand to be forms of stimming), my parents would tell me to stop. If I didn’t stop, my father would either pull off his belt or my mom would fetch her yardstick. They would then beat me until I stopped.
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