It's that time of year, when we get called to fill in a thousand bubbles to dissect our son into labels that work for the school district and the state but never actually capture Elias.
Nick and I sit at the kitchen table answering multiple choice questions with answers such as, never, sometimes, often, always, or not true at all, just a little true, somewhat true, or always true, and I find myself wanting to scream: "It all depends!"
Depends on the day, on the situation, on our response, on whether he ate two smoked salmon tacos for breakfast or if his sister is in the house.
My son is not a box.
So I just couldn't refrain from writing my own response to a couple of the questions:
An angel, really!? This is a question on a standardized assessment?
Since when do children sprout wings?
And by the way, this would worry me more than his struggle to complete hard tasks.
And yes, that is a canning jar of red wine in my hand:
How else would I get through all these tests?
Hope you and Nick had more than one glass! What a task!! Don't these specialists get it!! People like you and Nick should be asking the questions!! See you soon!
Posted by: Mom and Dad | 12/16/2015 at 03:20 AM
Whoa thanks for including pics of the questions. Actually seeing the ridiculousness really takes the absurdity to a whole other level. It's going to make than a canning jar to get through those. Glad you can have a sense of humor about it. As always hugs. Also really pissed about those kids at recess.
Posted by: Kate | 12/16/2015 at 04:23 AM
Oh Mom and Kate, we finished off the bottle:) After years of doing tests like these I've gotten to where I have to laugh about them to keep from ripping them all up. Hugs back!
Posted by: Christy | 12/16/2015 at 06:10 AM
They should have some parent questions. Gets paranoid when answering subjective assessments. Always. Wants to throw something through a window when ..... Always. Keeps their cool in review meetings. Rarely.
We don't fill these out too much anymore but up until Casey was five we did. I wondered what would happen if I answered frequently and the school says rarely to some undesired behavior. Will they think I'm a bad parent?
I commiserate.
Posted by: Meg | 12/16/2015 at 07:58 AM
After I've had a couple of glasses of wine I find my children's behavior much more angelic. But give me more than a couple and I just can't do things right.
Those of us who have to fill those out about students don't like them either. No child is a box.
Posted by: Lisa Y | 12/16/2015 at 10:56 AM
As a teacher I hate completing those too. Those bubbles don't let me say what I want to say!
Posted by: Shelley | 12/16/2015 at 06:45 PM
I honestly think those statements are there to help the helping folks figure out who the impossible-to-deal-with parents will be. Because there ARE parents who refuse to admit anything could ever be wrong (HA!) and they absolutely infuriate teachers/counsellors., etc. A sa teacher if I saw these boxes ticked because I know in advance that I will to find another route to address a child's needs. Does that make sense?
Posted by: Danielle | 12/19/2015 at 01:10 PM
I looked at that first photo and immediately hoped you had a strong drink in your hand... or really as many drinks as you need to get through it. I hate that on top of everything you and Nick deal with personally and professionally you also have to deal with this lame, outdated crap. Who writes them? Shouldn't there be a parents' committee that edits these questions and assesses their usefulness? Or at least gets to advise on which ones are too offensive to include? Hats off to you for keeping your sense of humor. You're a little angel. ;-)
Posted by: Louise | 12/20/2015 at 03:18 PM
Happy Late Birthday to Olive on Friday- I think you are at your parents now- so happy for all of you to be there and to have loving arms surrounding you all. I so hate what you and Nick have to do every year for your family- it is so not fair!!
Merry Christmas Dear Cousin and lots of love always to you and your fabulous family!!!
Posted by: Noel Dennehy | 12/20/2015 at 06:57 PM
Love, love love, all your comments! And yes, I did learn from my school psych friend that some of those questions are snuck in to gage the parents and make sure we aren't just randomly filling in bubbles. You know making designs and all, which is tempting....
Its been nice to be on a break from all of this here on the Cape with my Mom and Dad. I could live in this escape bubble for a lot longer...
Posted by: Christy | 12/26/2015 at 06:02 AM