They expected Kevin to do the same things they expected of other children.
He had responsibilities.
He had to study.
He had to learn from his mistakes.
He had to treat other people respectfully.
He was encouraged to develop interests that had nothing to do with his size.
That approach helped him understand an important distinction.Running Background Checks
There was a difference between being unusual and being defined by being unusual.
Kevin could acknowledge that his early story was remarkable without allowing it to become his entire identity.
ife Became More Ordinary
As childhood progressed, other parts of life began to matter more.
School brought homework, friendships, teachers, exams, and the everyday challenges experienced by young people everywhere.
Kevin made friends who knew him as a person rather than as the unusually large baby people had heard about.Planning Family Activities
Those friendships were important.
They showed him that people who genuinely knew him were interested in his sense of humor, personality, interests, and character.
