This article hits me hard. In school, I didn’t fit in with just one clique. I was the odd girl. Even though I knew most of these kids since the third grade. I did go live with my bio mom in South Carolina for fourth grade and then I was back with my guardian for the remainder of my school years. When I was 12 I had major craniofacial surgery and for many years surgeries continued and I had to go to an “alternative” school because they said it was best for me. I did that from 7th until 9th and actually skipped a grade while I was there. Returning to normal high school... my classmates had already made their life long friendships and had their cliques. I knew girls from church and whatever. My personality I’m not going to deny probably has been quirky and a bit immature (I mean I collect dolls
). So I hung out with my ROTC friends, my church friends, my neighborhood friends, my freak friends (Do they call them EMO now?), probably some other people that were seen as unsavory. I was even friends with a popular rich girl at school because her dad was my cardiologist. fast forward literally 20 years and I married Rick and was immersed in the military life and OH BOY do they have cliques! They have cliques based on their husband's rank, cliques based on their husband's job, etc. but again I was lucky to have a wide range of people that befriended me. Yes I felt like a bum at the Met Gala... I didn’t have a Louis Vuitton purse, I rarely wear makeup, I don’t have a degree, and since I had to leave most of my belongings in my old life I didn’t have a lot of nice things. I still am most comfortable in my tee shirts and jeans. I tried though and I decided to go into debt wasn’t worth fitting in. Moving to Madison is daunting... Jeanette
was in the first grade when we moved here. A new school and not just for her but for everyone. I walked her to the bus stop still in my lounge clothes or casually in my t-shirt and jeans... I mean I sat home all day with a newborn lol.. here comes Ms Shelley
dressed elegantly because she was headed to work. Boy again did I feel like a sore thumb. I mean even my husband is way out of my league! Let us just say Madisonites have a certain standard. My kids have had no problems with their friend circles but their friend's parents aren’t always as friendly to me. The friendships I did have in the beginning yeah well she still had a way of making me feel a certain type of way. Some kids are heavily into sports and the moms have cliques with other soccer moms. William hates sports and is purely a music lover and a geek like his dad. Jeanette is the artistic sore thumb now like her mom. Plus we are built differently than most families and we are unconventional because we have to be. So to be friends with me or the kids is a journey of acceptance and patience 
. Anyone that knows me will tell you, I’d rather work in a kennel than corporate America. I am a farmer's daughter and granddaughter. It’s just my way. I accept my quirky clothes and my hobbies. I decided I can pull off an adorable Disney shirt with matching leggings or a Disney dress. I’m comfortable that way. In my cartoon themed clothes, the Deadpool shirt I’m wearing today, or band tee. I’m most comfortable in my own skin and I wasn’t born to fit in (TRUST ME). I was born with six toes and webbed fingers, That's not exactly fitting in. I’m okay with that!
