I need to vent and thought others might as well!
WTF #1 My mother, a retired special education teacher, said to me, about my 11 month old, "I was worried that he might have Down Syndrome because he's so happy all the time". My WTF reaction- People with Down Syndrome experience a range of emotions just like anyone else. My son has no Down Syndrome features and his trisomy 21 test was negative. Maybe he's happy because all his needs are met. Maybe he's happy because that's part of his personality. He isn't happy when he's sick or has bumped his head. My son is not an unusually happy baby. What the hell! She's a retired special ed teacher how the hell could she say something so ignorant!
WTF #2 This is still about comments from my mom. Did I mention that she was a special ed teacher. We were discussing my adult sister, I said "Sister has special needs and she's doing great. She's a totally functional adult, married, running a business, and raising a child". I was trying to make the point that special needs didn't mean all gloom and doom. My mother replies, "Your sister doesn't have special needs"! I say, "Didn't she have an IEP"? My mom answers, "Yes, but just for ADD and Learning Disabilities". :irked
WTF #3 A pattern is developing here, conversations with my mom! I say, "Sister is dyslexic but she has done really well using technology to make up for any deficits". My mother says, "She's not dyslexic, she just had a learning disability in reading. Phonics were hard for her. Dyslexics see letters backwards". OMFG - You taught special ed for thirty years! What in the hell did you do to those kids!
WTF #1 My mother, a retired special education teacher, said to me, about my 11 month old, "I was worried that he might have Down Syndrome because he's so happy all the time". My WTF reaction- People with Down Syndrome experience a range of emotions just like anyone else. My son has no Down Syndrome features and his trisomy 21 test was negative. Maybe he's happy because all his needs are met. Maybe he's happy because that's part of his personality. He isn't happy when he's sick or has bumped his head. My son is not an unusually happy baby. What the hell! She's a retired special ed teacher how the hell could she say something so ignorant!
WTF #2 This is still about comments from my mom. Did I mention that she was a special ed teacher. We were discussing my adult sister, I said "Sister has special needs and she's doing great. She's a totally functional adult, married, running a business, and raising a child". I was trying to make the point that special needs didn't mean all gloom and doom. My mother replies, "Your sister doesn't have special needs"! I say, "Didn't she have an IEP"? My mom answers, "Yes, but just for ADD and Learning Disabilities". :irked
WTF #3 A pattern is developing here, conversations with my mom! I say, "Sister is dyslexic but she has done really well using technology to make up for any deficits". My mother says, "She's not dyslexic, she just had a learning disability in reading. Phonics were hard for her. Dyslexics see letters backwards". OMFG - You taught special ed for thirty years! What in the hell did you do to those kids!