Social Butterfly
my mother
a Phi Beta Kappa cum laude college graduate
a mathematics teacher
wanted a child
who was a social butterfly
she never accepted me
tried to give me social skills
mainly dancing lessons
ignored my good qualities
my intelligence
never exposed me to normal childhood activities
never took me to museums
never allowed me to take piano lessons
or go to concerts
I lost friends easily
felt very lonely
in high school I was on the high honor roll
a friend called to congratulate my mother
she finally told me
social skills were easier than academic skills
she felt college was not important
I majored in mathematics in college
but was starved for music
attended every classical music concert possible
worked at inception of computer industry
found my love of art later in life
with support from my husband
why couldn’t I be a social butterfly?
my mother had no knowledge of Aspergers
even less concern for me
my blooming as an artist
was left for me to carry out
to leave behind to the world
