Sunday, January 24, 2010

Things I heard last week.

I've gotten requests to maybe provide some stories from work.  I have to be careful about that, but just know that key details have been changed to protect confidentiality.


From parents:

"Well, I was taking him to school because he doesn't like the bus, and he started screaming at me because I didn't take the route he wanted me to take. He called me a fat-assed bitch. That's like, the third time he's done it, so I was like, listen mister, scream at me again and I'm not giving you any more rides to school."


"Well, she moved around the state and had to live with a lot of different family members and sleep on their couches because, you know, nobody really had room for her while I was in prison. But she was always real sweet until last year, and then you know, she started talking back to me. I just don't understand it. I never talked back to my parents."


"Well, you know, he grew up watching his father and me beat the crap out of eat other, and we drank a lot, too.  He just seems so angry all the time--I don't understand it; I told him that's not how people are supposed to act, but here he is, doing it."


"I don't really understand what you mean by 'consent' and that she has to be a danger to herself.  I thought that if I came here and asked you to lock her up, you'd lock her up."


"His social worker and I watched a video about mental disorders in children, so we're pretty sure we know what's wrong with him."



From children:


"I figured if I hit myself in the head long enough, I could get the voices to stop."


"I walk really fast so the shadows don't catch me."


"My teacher asked me where my homework was, and then she was all like, you didn't do your homework?  She was all disrespectful about it and stuff.  So I threw a chair at her.  I don't know.  Maybe I overreacted, I guess."


"I flipped out so bad and kicked a hole in the walls.  I mean, all she said was, 'it's time to get up'.  But it was just the way she said it."



and my all-time favorite:







"I hate it when my mom gets wasted.  It makes me really mad, so I make her waffles and syrup.  That way when she passes out in her plate she gets all sticky."

8 comments:

  1. Hi:

    I read your blog a lot and give you a TON of credit for being able to listing to these folks without breaking.

    I think my heart would be broken every day.

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  2. I love that you love your job so much. That kid who makes waffles with syrup for revenge is awesome. Glad those kids have you in that job. I can only imagine how rough it would be for you AND the kids if you hated your job.

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  3. O.M.G. You are a saint listening to all that every day and still being able to help the families.

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  4. Anonymous12:53 PM

    Sounds painfully familiar- the hideously ironic remarks parents make, the soul-weary kids with their sentient wisdom...

    It takes incredible tenacity to do casework, day in-day out. The kids are fortunate to have your time, energy, life experience and patience on their side.

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  5. Just effing WOW. That's all.

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  6. I don't envy what you have to do every day...but thanks for making life better for those families (and not punching anyone in the process).

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  7. The really ironic thing is that so many of those soul weary wise kids will grow up to repeat the sins of their parents.

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  8. Speechless. Very insightful recap, though.

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