Apparently, I've had sensory sensitivities my entire life. It only took having two sensory-sensitive kids to figure it out. Better late than never, right?
Lately, I've been having a bit of a revelation about myself.
And by "a bit," I mean a pretty BIG one.
As a mom of two kids with sensory sensitivities, I've spent years learning about sensory processing, understanding their triggers, figuring out what helps them regulate, and trying to make their everyday lives a little easier.
But somewhere along the way, I started noticing something.
Wait a minute. I do some of these things, too.
Actually, I do A LOT of these things.
And the more I learn about my kids, the more I'm realizing that some of the things I've considered my own little quirks and preferences my entire life might actually be sensory sensitivities.
How did I go this long without connecting the dots?
Apparently, My "Preferences" Might Not Just Be Preferences
Let's start with the fact that I cannot wait to change into my pajamas the second I get home.
And I mean THE SECOND.
My husband jokes that I'm like a reverse firefighter. Instead of racing to put my uniform on, I'm racing to get mine off.
I've done this for as long as I can remember. I just thought I really loved pajamas.
Then there's the wrist thing.
I absolutely cannot stand having anything on my wrists. I've never liked bracelets, and if I'm wearing long sleeves, you can pretty much guarantee they're rolled up.
Sunglasses? Forget it.
I know people wear them all day without a second thought, but for me, the pressure they create on my head becomes so unbearable that I just can't do it.
And don't even get me started on noise.
If I'm trying to concentrate on something and there's even the tiniest bit of background noise, I can become irrationally angry.
Not mildly annoyed.
I'm talking WHY IS EVERYONE BREATHING SO LOUDLY?! levels of irritated.
And then there's being touched.
I love my kids more than anything in the world, obviously. But when I've already had a long day, I'm overwhelmed, and they're constantly touching me, climbing on me, or needing something from me, I can hit sensory overload pretty quickly.
Sometimes I get home after being "on" all day, navigating noise, uncomfortable clothing, people, responsibilities, and approximately a million other things, and I just explode.
For years, I thought that was simply me being cranky, impatient, or exhausted.
Now I'm starting to wonder how much of it is actually sensory overload.
The Things We Learn About Our Kids Can Teach Us About Ourselves
Here's what's so interesting to me.
I've spent years teaching my children how to recognize when they're becoming overwhelmed.
We talk about taking breaks, finding quiet spaces, wearing comfortable clothing, and using different tools to help regulate their nervous systems.
I'm constantly reminding them that it's okay to need a break.
That they don't have to force themselves to tolerate something that's making them miserable.
That their sensory needs are real.
And somehow, it never occurred to me that maybe I should be taking my own advice.
Seriously.
I will encourage my kids to take a sensory break without hesitation, but I'll spend an entire day forcing myself to tolerate things that are making me uncomfortable.
Why?!
I Thought This Was Just My Personality
Growing up, I never thought of any of these things as sensory issues.
They were just my preferences.
Things I liked. Things I hated. Things that bothered me more than they seemed to bother other people.
I never connected any of it to sensory processing or neurodivergence.
And to be clear, having sensory sensitivities doesn't automatically mean someone has a mental health condition or a particular diagnosis.
But learning about sensory processing through my children has given me an entirely new way to understand experiences I've had my whole life.
It's honestly kind of mind-blowing.
Because once you start recognizing these patterns, you start noticing them EVERYWHERE.
And suddenly, things you've spent decades just putting up with start making a lot more sense.
Why Am I Making Myself Suffer Through Things I Can Actually Change?
This is probably the biggest realization I've had.
I'm not saying I can eliminate every uncomfortable sensation from my life. I'm a working mom with two kids. Quiet and personal space aren't exactly abundant resources around here.
But why am I forcing myself to tolerate things that genuinely bother me when there might be simple ways to make my day easier?
If I know noise makes it difficult for me to concentrate, why not create a quieter workspace when I can?
If I know certain clothing makes me uncomfortable, why am I wearing it?
If I know I'm already overwhelmed, why not give myself a few minutes to decompress before I reach my breaking point?
I spend so much time helping my kids recognize and manage their sensory needs.
Maybe it's time I start showing myself that same kindness.
And here's the funny part.
Even as I'm writing this, I'm realizing how many sensory regulation strategies I encourage my kids to use that I could probably benefit from myself.
Taking little breaks throughout the day.
Recognizing when I'm getting overstimulated BEFORE I explode.
Giving myself permission to step away from noise.
Choosing comfort instead of just tolerating discomfort.
Things I already know. Things I already teach my kids.
Things I apparently needed to hear myself.
My son would call this my "big brain" moment.
And honestly? He's not wrong.
Sensory Sensitivities in Adults: How Did Nobody Tell Us About This?
I think part of the reason this has taken me so long to recognize is that we hear so much about sensory issues in children, but not nearly as much about how sensory sensitivities in adults show up.
When we talk about sensory sensitivities, we picture a child crying because their socks feel funny or refusing to wear a certain shirt.
But what about the adult who can't tolerate sunglasses?
The mom who gets overwhelmed when everyone is talking at once?
The person who can't focus because someone is tapping a pen three rooms away?
Or the adult who immediately changes into pajamas after work because they just cannot tolerate another second in their regular clothes?
Sensory sensitivities can involve touch, sound, light, temperature, and plenty of other everyday experiences.
They can also overlap with ADHD and autism, although you don't need either diagnosis to have sensory sensitivities.
And while some people become more aware of these experiences as adults, others have been dealing with them since childhood without ever having the language to describe them.
For me, learning about my children's sensory needs has been the missing piece.
And Yes, I Even Make Sensory-Friendly Socks for Adults
Here's something funny.
I literally own a sensory-friendly clothing company, and I'm only now fully recognizing some of my own sensory needs.
You really can't make this stuff up.
When I started Parker & Talia, my focus was on helping my kids and other families dealing with the daily struggles of uncomfortable clothing.
Our SmoothToeâ„¢ socks were designed with my children's sensory sensitivities in mind, and we've since expanded into adult sizes. They have a seamless toe with a hand-finished seam, and it turns out that's a nice detail for grown-ups too, even for someone like me whose sensory issue was never socks in the first place.
Now, here's my confession.
Socks have never actually been one of my personal sensory issues.
I know. The irony.
But I wear our bamboo-blend socks, and they are genuinely some of the softest things I've ever put on my feet. If you're looking for soft, sensory-friendly clothing for adults, comfort like this is exactly why I started making it.
Even though traditional socks don't particularly bother me, there's something pretty wonderful about wearing something incredibly soft and comfortable all day.
It's one of those little things that makes everyday life feel nicer.
And that's something I'm starting to appreciate more and more.
Comfort doesn't have to be reserved for people who struggle with a particular sensory issue.
Sometimes feeling good in what you're wearing is reason enough.
Explore Parker & Talia's SmoothToeâ„¢ Socks for Kids & Adults
Maybe Our Kids Are Teaching Us More Than We Realize
I started this journey trying to understand my children.
I wanted to know why certain things were so difficult for them, how I could help, and how to make their world feel a little more comfortable.
I never expected that somewhere along the way, I'd start understanding myself better, too.
It's funny how that happens.
We spend so much time trying to teach our kids about themselves, and sometimes they're the ones who end up teaching us the most.
I'm still figuring all of this out.
But I'm trying to be a little easier on myself. To stop dismissing things that have genuinely bothered me my entire life. And to recognize that I deserve the same patience and understanding I work so hard to give my children.
I honestly can't believe it took me this long to have this realization.
But better late than never, I guess.
And if any of this sounds familiar, maybe it's worth paying a little more attention to your own sensory needs, too.
You don't need to have a diagnosis to experiment with making your environment more comfortable, taking sensory breaks, or finding little ways to regulate throughout the day.
Because maybe we don't have to spend our entire lives just putting up with things that make us uncomfortable.
And now I have to ask...
Has anyone else started recognizing their own sensory sensitivities after learning about their kids'?
Or is this just me having a very delayed "big brain" moment? LOL.