So, remember how my dad told me I should just… give up on my kid? So, I forwarded that email to Mrs. Block, and she had this AWESOME reply:
Can't help but think that the bogeyman that wakes you up at night to worry about D. sounds remarkably like your dad in his e-mail. I'm sure he's a wonderful man, and I respect his daughter very much, but I question whether D. really does have an "inability . . . to grasp the most elementary concepts of self/other/join in/relate." I'm staking my opinion on the fact that this is NOT true. Certainly, I think it may be too much for him to generate enough language to relate it, but I think he sees himself in relationship with others. And, I'm sure I don't need to say this, but there is never a time when intervention and/or schooling does not help when a child's not at age-appropriate levels of development. When I think about some kids I've worked with and the fears I've had for them, and then think about the verbal, reciprocal, symbolic play they have with me now, 3 years later, I know interventions like the ones you all are pursuing make enormous differences.
Yeah. So then my parents called, and Mr. WG refused to answer the phone, and I finally did, and then I told him, “We disagree with what you said about D.” And he said, “We figured you would,” all smug-like, and that was annoying, but I took a deep breath.
“Our disagreement wasn’t based on not wanting to agree with you,” I explained. “It was backed by professional opinion.”
I’m telling you, if D. were my dad’s kid, he’d be institutionalized. And I really think that some part of him truly believes I should just put D. “away” and focus on the kids that “have a chance.”
I love my dad, I do, but I don’t always like him very much.
8 comments:
Sounds like you handled yourself with remarkable restraint. Well-done.
P.S. You have a real name twice in the e-mail excerpt.
Thanks! On both counts! Fixed it. :-)
WG, you are awesome! What a great advocate for your child, in even the most trying of times. There's a reason why G-d gave D to you and not to your father. Not to say that plenty of parents don't give up hope, but as I tell you, pretty much every day, D is an unbelievable child with so much to offer, and you get it in a way that your Dad never could. I know that your and Mr. WG are the presidents of D's fan club, but count me in - I love that kid :)
Yeah, I can see what you're saying about your dad... it does sound like he'd rather you put D. away. But I think you're doing the right things... I don't think I'd have the heart to just give up on one of my children. If a momma won't fight for her child, who will?
For whatever it's worth, I'm behind you and D., and wishing you well. :)
P.S. I saw that name, too. I didn't get to comment earlier... to mention that to you didn't even cross my mind, for some reason. But it's beautiful. I've never heard that before. :)
I don't think I was breathing as I read that post!! I don't know what to say except that mother knows best.But you already knew this.
This is one of the reasons you were blessed with this child.
Thank you all. :-) Re: the name -- it is Hebrew and it means "jewel." And that it what he is.
He most definitely is. <3
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