Therapies for Pip have always been a sore spot for me. I wrote this years ago, but it rings exactly true to yesterday during a speech assessment when I lost my marbles:

"I have a love/hate, okay mostly hate relationship with Pip's therapy stuff. I love that it is available & we are being proactive instead of reactive. I love that the people involved seemed to actual care about Pip's progress & are helpful & supportive. I love that we really have seen her develop the last few months- almost as if catching up from the slow start she had at the beginning. But all that positive stuff being said- I still hate it. I hate that it even has to happen..."




Imagine...


Therapist shows Pip a drawing of 6 items & then asks questions to determine her comprehension. 


"Pip what do you watch cartoons on?"


Pip looking at me. 


Me: "I don't think I've ever used the word cartoon to any of my kids. Ask her what she watches shows on."


As soon as I said that, Pip points to the drawing of the tv-made-in-1967. 


So, my problem not only with the Dick-and-Jane drawings, is that, you apparently can't change the words or make any type of gestures - You can't possibly adapt in anyway. 



And these out-of-date-in-the-box-stringent-standardize assessments/tests kinda-sorta-make me cringe. 


My child doesn't get it-right-if-you-will, because she's never heard the word cartoon. 


UNFAIR. 


And I let her therapist know it. 


I ROARED. 


And then had to step back. 


I BREATHED.


And then I was assertive & voiced aggressively what I thought. 


I BECAME A prideful-bi-at-ch-of-a-momma-bear.


And then I sent the therapist an apology email trying to explain from a momma's-point-of-view, why I got-like-I-got. I explained that we have weekly specialist appointments & spend full days at doctors offices and in 2 weeks we are bringing Pip for her 11th surgery. That the handful or more of other medical needs in her life have taken precedent & that speech is something we took on a lot on our own. That through educating ourselves, Signing Times, Youtube videos & minimal speech therapy, she's come a helluva-a-long-way and that so many elements can affect her not wanting to co-operate or "perform" in that setting. And that while I realize she was doing her job, I hope she can understand that these "assessments/tests" sometimes feel like a real kick-in-the-balls...


#onwardandupward #damnyoudickandjane