(no subject)
1. I have never wanted to stab so many people. A boss, another boss, two random guys on facebook, the person not calling me back soon enough, and the really slow muthas on the interstate.
2. Does your son have a mild case of Down syndrome?
WTF? Even if that was a legitimate question, how would you feel if I said: No, he has a very severe case of it.
Then you would pull your eyebrows together and down and apologize to me. So even if it was a legit question, why would you ask it??
Why can't I just say: There is NO case of down syndrome. You either have an extra chromosome or you don't. Variation comes into play with the IQ range, significance of delays, and other health problems that may or may not be a result of the Down syndrome. If that is what you are asking, Trent is delayed by several months but shows much promise.
And the way a child's face looks does not give you evidence of "the case" of Down syndrome. Just because a child doesn't look like he has Down syndrome does not mean he doesn't have it or doesn't have it "heavily." He still has it, trust me. Regardless of all that, he is the blessing I never knew I needed or wanted.
I don't say what I want to say because I'm worried about someone feeling embarrassed by my correcting them. But shouldn't educating them be my job as Trent's mom/advocate. I don't know. Mainly, I want to tell them that if they do not have any idea what they are talking about, they should research it first. Then come back with questions.
3. I have finally stopped biting my nails. That is a big accomplishment.
4. The amount of hatred I have for my job has turned me into a pill popper. Muscle relaxers for neck spasms and tension, migraine pills for migraines, and anti-anxiety for the moments that I feel like I'm about to lose my shit in a really terrible way (ie either kill someone or just flip the fuck out.) Saturday and Sunday, I take no pills and I smile, laugh, and love. Monday-Friday, yeah. Pop a pill. Pop a pill. Frown. Chew the inside of my mouth. Rub my temples. Fight tears. My neck literally locks in place sometimes at work. It begins hurting the minute I walk into the building. I hate, hate, HATE that place. Of course I'm looking other places, but the job market isn't exactly rocking right now.
5. How hard is it to understand why the word "retard" is offensive even if you don't mean to be? I'm going to try to explain below. You are warned that I'm going to use some extremely hurtful words to prove a point.
That was niggered.
Oh my god, I'm such a nigger.
Oh my god, I'm such a spic.
That is some niggered shit.
Nobody says these things right? Or if they do, it is because they are hateful people and we know they are hateful.
But it is okay to say:
That was retarded.
Oh my god, I'm such a retard.
That is some retarded shit.
Years ago, nigger used to be the accepted term for black people. It was said by lots of white people who didn't care if it hurt people's feelings. Thank god, it is no longer acceptable speech and to call someone that is an intentional insult.
Retard used to be the acceptable term for people with mental retardation. Mental Retardation is a clinical term. A diagnosis. The clinical term was shortened. Now it is just a punchline and an adjective to describe a mistake, messed up situation, or a person after they do something silly. Or it is used as an obvious insult. See that person with Down syndrome? Yeah, the retard. Lets go pick on him.
What if you forgot your shopping list before a big shopping trip. When you get to the store and can't find it, you mutter out loud: "I'm such a retard." A foot away is a teenager with Down syndrome. He has been called a retard by his classmates. They have picked on him for something he can't help. All he heard of your statement was the word retard. He doesn't know the context. He doesn't know that you were talking about yourself and your forgotten shopping list. All he heard was the word used to bully him. He thinks you, an adult, just called him that word.
OR, say that he does hear the context. He knows you made a silly mistake and that you were talking about yourself. So what? He knows that you just compared you and your silly mistake to him. Your mistake was so silly and stupid, it can only be described as...him....as his medical condition...as what people call him. As if he is a silly and stupid mistake.
I don't know why people do not understand this. Are we (the advocates for our children and self-advocates) not explaining it well enough? Is it too much of a habit? Or are people just frustrated with being told they offended someone? Freedom of speech gives you the right to use any words you want. I'm free to be offended. You are free to think I'm stupid for being offended. But where does morals land in this situation? Does having freedom of speech mean you should throw caution to the wind and screw anyone who is hurt by your words?
An actual medical diagnosis is made into a punchline. Lets joke about the short bus, helmets, and "retards". Use a derogatory name and sprinkle it in everyday conversations.
6. Buddy Walk this weekend!!! Yay! Trent's Turtles has over 90 members.
2. Does your son have a mild case of Down syndrome?
WTF? Even if that was a legitimate question, how would you feel if I said: No, he has a very severe case of it.
Then you would pull your eyebrows together and down and apologize to me. So even if it was a legit question, why would you ask it??
Why can't I just say: There is NO case of down syndrome. You either have an extra chromosome or you don't. Variation comes into play with the IQ range, significance of delays, and other health problems that may or may not be a result of the Down syndrome. If that is what you are asking, Trent is delayed by several months but shows much promise.
And the way a child's face looks does not give you evidence of "the case" of Down syndrome. Just because a child doesn't look like he has Down syndrome does not mean he doesn't have it or doesn't have it "heavily." He still has it, trust me. Regardless of all that, he is the blessing I never knew I needed or wanted.
I don't say what I want to say because I'm worried about someone feeling embarrassed by my correcting them. But shouldn't educating them be my job as Trent's mom/advocate. I don't know. Mainly, I want to tell them that if they do not have any idea what they are talking about, they should research it first. Then come back with questions.
3. I have finally stopped biting my nails. That is a big accomplishment.
4. The amount of hatred I have for my job has turned me into a pill popper. Muscle relaxers for neck spasms and tension, migraine pills for migraines, and anti-anxiety for the moments that I feel like I'm about to lose my shit in a really terrible way (ie either kill someone or just flip the fuck out.) Saturday and Sunday, I take no pills and I smile, laugh, and love. Monday-Friday, yeah. Pop a pill. Pop a pill. Frown. Chew the inside of my mouth. Rub my temples. Fight tears. My neck literally locks in place sometimes at work. It begins hurting the minute I walk into the building. I hate, hate, HATE that place. Of course I'm looking other places, but the job market isn't exactly rocking right now.
5. How hard is it to understand why the word "retard" is offensive even if you don't mean to be? I'm going to try to explain below. You are warned that I'm going to use some extremely hurtful words to prove a point.
That was niggered.
Oh my god, I'm such a nigger.
Oh my god, I'm such a spic.
That is some niggered shit.
Nobody says these things right? Or if they do, it is because they are hateful people and we know they are hateful.
But it is okay to say:
That was retarded.
Oh my god, I'm such a retard.
That is some retarded shit.
Years ago, nigger used to be the accepted term for black people. It was said by lots of white people who didn't care if it hurt people's feelings. Thank god, it is no longer acceptable speech and to call someone that is an intentional insult.
Retard used to be the acceptable term for people with mental retardation. Mental Retardation is a clinical term. A diagnosis. The clinical term was shortened. Now it is just a punchline and an adjective to describe a mistake, messed up situation, or a person after they do something silly. Or it is used as an obvious insult. See that person with Down syndrome? Yeah, the retard. Lets go pick on him.
What if you forgot your shopping list before a big shopping trip. When you get to the store and can't find it, you mutter out loud: "I'm such a retard." A foot away is a teenager with Down syndrome. He has been called a retard by his classmates. They have picked on him for something he can't help. All he heard of your statement was the word retard. He doesn't know the context. He doesn't know that you were talking about yourself and your forgotten shopping list. All he heard was the word used to bully him. He thinks you, an adult, just called him that word.
OR, say that he does hear the context. He knows you made a silly mistake and that you were talking about yourself. So what? He knows that you just compared you and your silly mistake to him. Your mistake was so silly and stupid, it can only be described as...him....as his medical condition...as what people call him. As if he is a silly and stupid mistake.
I don't know why people do not understand this. Are we (the advocates for our children and self-advocates) not explaining it well enough? Is it too much of a habit? Or are people just frustrated with being told they offended someone? Freedom of speech gives you the right to use any words you want. I'm free to be offended. You are free to think I'm stupid for being offended. But where does morals land in this situation? Does having freedom of speech mean you should throw caution to the wind and screw anyone who is hurt by your words?
An actual medical diagnosis is made into a punchline. Lets joke about the short bus, helmets, and "retards". Use a derogatory name and sprinkle it in everyday conversations.
6. Buddy Walk this weekend!!! Yay! Trent's Turtles has over 90 members.