When I was seven years old my family moved to a new neighborhood where there was a troop of Brownies, which are junior Girl Scouts. I was invited by the den mother to join the group. I was excited to meet new people and hopefully make some new friends.

My first meeting was my last. Our project for the meeting was to cut a pattern out of colored construction paper which, when glued, became a little candy basket. We were going to fill them with gum drops and distribute them to the children at a nearby orphanage.

The pattern was such that one could easily put two of them on one sheet of paper. I thought of the waste of paper and was motivated to show the troop leader my improvement on her plan. I thought she would be pleased. However she was furious with me and immediately asked me to leave the meeting. I was banished. There was no appeal.

I never did make any friends in that neighborhood. Two girls from that meeting dropped by but one was a Roman Catholic, and her Mother did not want her playing with Protestants - I am Episcopalian. The other was a hard-shell southern Baptist and her Mom did not want her playing with Catholics. I went back to reading my books, singing my music and playing tomboy by myself. But I digress.

The point is that I am a typical example of an indigo child. I have never been able to take orders blindly. Things need to be explained to me. I felt, as a child as much as today, that my mind was the most trusted one around. I am introverted and find it challenging to be in large groups unless I get to pick the group.

These are all indigo characteristics.

Let me list them more precisely:

1. They are not able to accept orders without explanations and the opportunity to share their own input.
2. They tend to be antisocial and introverted.
3. School is often very hard for Indigos because the people in their classes do not make sense to them, and because they tend to know as much or more than their teachers.
4. Their sense of self-worth is quite high. The indigo Child web site describes them as coming into the world with a feeling of royalty.
5. They won't do some things, like stand on line.
6. They are system busters when the system does not make sense to them. It is not that they are rebels. They are naturally progressive and want to improve the environment in which they live.
7. You cannot make an Indigo feel guilty by threatening him. Your only hope of altering his behavior is to ask for his help in negotiating a solution.
8. They assume their right to be here and tend to tell parents what they need.
9. They tend to be highly psychic and intuitive, with many characteristics of right-brained people such as artists, musicians and writers.
10. They tend to be very intelligent.
11. They tend to present to the classically trained therapist in such a way as to be diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder of one type or another.

They sound like such brats! What is going on with these kids?