As a child,
the word retard was common, but in
1991 I suffered a traumatic brain injury, and I really saw it for what it was; demeaning. When my kids got to be school aged, they began to hear other kids use the word. I
explained to them, rather loudly, that it wasn’t a good word, and it wouldn't be
allowed in our house, dang it! Stabbing my chest, I asked if they wanted people to refer to me as retarded.
But you’re not! They said.
Cht, Cht, Cht, (that means WAIT A MINUTE!) let me finish! I
replied. (Side note: I still can’t be interrupted mid-story
and be expected to recall what I was talking about, unless time is given.)
Here’s the timeline on that situation:
Pre 1991 - After interruption, I simply
returned to the right place in the right story
1991- Crash! Traumatic Brain Injury sustained
Post TBI - After interruption, I couldn’t remember the story, or where I stopped
Post, Post TBI - After interruption, I needed prompts to get back to the right story and restart it in the right place
Currently - After interruption, I can remember the story, and pick it up where left off but
must be given extra time
I said some people would consider me retarded because of my limp and wandering eye.
And, I wanted to add, Because of mom's slow, mental processing speed, (which is medium on a good day) but they were too young to understand. Instead, I told them, You guys know I don’t always have the right words to say what I want.
They must have gotten it, though, because I didn’t hear the R word again, at least not that I remember.
They must have gotten it, though, because I didn’t hear the R word again, at least not that I remember.
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