my dad started going off about all the "fad" diagnoses

[mayalaen]

And how it must be people wanting attention or it’s related to something or we’re screwing people up or maybe it’s vaccines and all that and both my mom and I just laughed at him.

He was like HAAAY. Why you laughin at ME?!

I threw out a few facts, but the one that got him was - “So you do realize that even as little as 50 years ago someone like me would’ve been put into an attic and nobody outside the house would’ve ever even known I existed, right?”

Oh, and don’t forget that it’s also a fad to not be cisgenderhet.

My mom laughed at that one too and said, “Did you forget that I’m bisexual and have never felt at home in a female body? I’m 64!”

I mentioned that it’s most likely he grew up with several people who were just “problem children” who got beat for being “bad” when really they were just undiagnosed with ADHD, autism, schizophrenia, etc. and never got the help they needed.

He got a funny look on his face and sat back.  “I probably had ADHD. Do you think I did? I had a terrible time focusing and was constantly in trouble.” Yeah, a teacher even decked him at one point. Sent my dad right to the ground with a punch to the face.

I told him yes, he most likely had either ADHD or some other personality disorder.

He got quiet for a few minutes while he processed it.