OK I got serious and I did a smol amount of sort-of neurotypicality research.

I tried to think of some of the ways NT people have showed me affection, in their culture, & here's what I came up with. Not a snark tweet.

saying "I love you" in neurotypical:

- I am cold/hot/tired so I assume you must be too, here's a sweater/I will hold your sweater/go to sleep
- a good thing happened, let's celebrate with 200 of our closest friends!
- I become timeblind when I'm with you

- You can join my routine (that I built pretty easily, just because I decided to, anyway it's yours if you wanna join )
- I will coordinate your events.
- Need a plus one for an uncomfortable social evening? I am THERE.

- I will listen to you even if I have no experience of what you're talking about. Stimming? Hyperfocusing? Never heard of her. Tell me everything.
- Silence is social failure in my culture but I will sit quietly with you if you need me too.

- Diagnoses & labels are scary for me, because privilege, but if they help you I will lean all the way in.
- Talking about my culture is Not Done but I will try my best to explain some of it to you even though it's v hard and uncomfortable.

Me speaking: I have been so angry today over the worst experiences of Autism Awareness Month, but I'm choosing to remember the ways that my NT people showed me love, because I want to heal my anger. If you want, leave some of the ways you've experienced NT love in the replies.