Wednesday, May 2, 2012

The Things I Have To Explain...

If you read my blog regularly you know that I spend several afternoons a week at an ICF/MR where I counsel with those who suffer from developmental delay issues. I wrote a post sometime ago about a woman I see for sessions and walking with her and her finding happiness just from finding grasshoppers. I had a session with her again yesterday and while it was not inspirational but was rather humorous!

We were walking and talking again yesterday and made our way to the Koi fish pond and sat at the gazebo for a little while as she talked about some things she had going on and her feelings on some issues and we discussed how she can cope, because you know that is what counselors are suppose to do.

Winding down her session we started walking back to the workshop so she could return to her job duties. She noticed all the butterflies flying around and started talking to the butterflies, she often talks to insects, which is quite therapeutic for her. She said things like "oh hello pretty butterfly, isn't it a pretty day" "my aren't you a pretty butterfly", etc. We discussed some of the colors of the butterflies and then a beautiful yellow butterfly flew in our path and landed on the sidewalk. We stopped immediately just looking at the butterfly when my clients said "My you are a beautiful butterfly! Would you like to choke my chicken?" OH EMMM GEEE!! I about fell over!! As hard as I tried I just couldn't stifle my laughter.

Making me laugh is something she enjoys so she kept repeating this "want to choke my chicken?". I was finally able to gather myself take a deep breath and ask her if she knew what it meant. She told me "no" and said a male peer asks her that sometimes. I tried to think of the most appropriate way to inform her what the phrase was referring to and finally just told her "he is asking you to grab his penis". She stopped and looked down like she was thinking very hard and then slowly turned her head to me and said "he is asking me what?". I told her again what the phrase meant and she took a deep breath and sighed deeply shaking her head and said "well that just isn't very nice and I think I will tell him he can choke his own chicken". Since she was being so serious I knew I could not laugh so I bit on my lower lip so I wouldn't laugh and simply told her "yes, that might be a good idea".

On the drive home I got to thinking about this all over again and just about had to pull over because I was laughing so hard. Sometimes I have to talk with clients where there are no easy explanations...loss of a loved one, overcoming years of abuse, how to deal with emotions you don't understand, how to deal with mean people, etc. But yesterday, well the explanation I had to give in that session had to be one of the most entertaining!

19 comments:

  1. MUHAHAHHAA I just snorted coffee all over my laptop and my 2yr old is looking at me like I'm crazy :) Thanks for the morning laugh!!! Oh and I totally think you need to make a card with this!

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  2. OHH MMM GEE is right. Im glad you had to explain it to her and not me.

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  3. I'm like that girl also - I had no idea what "choke that chicken" meant. This is a funny story! LOL!

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  4. i have tears in my eyes...omgosh, this was so funny and you tell it so well...you really should be an author...you always pen a good story!

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  5. OMG! I love funny stories--that was hilarious. TFS! Love your little warning poster too!--Pat N.

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  6. Well Okie lady you have done it again. Started my day off with one huge laugh. Thank you.
    Such a great story.
    Myrna

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  7. Thank you for sharing that!! Too Funny!!

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  8. Out of the mouths of the innocent - so funny. Good for your client and good for you in sharing such an amusing story. My mom had so many funny stories about we kids saying inappropriate words and her sitting down with us to teach us the definition. And she only used the correct/adult words, she said that we would usually get a horrible expression on our face and never use the word again. LOL.

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  9. LOL. You have an entertaining life! I needed that after today, thanks.

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  10. OMG! I've never heard that either - maybe it's an American saying that hasn't made it's way "over the pond" yet? But, oh boy! You made me laugh. But on a serious note - how awful for her that a colleague is saying that to her!
    You really need to be writing that book - it would be a best seller, I'm sure. :-)
    Jude.x

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  11. OMG! What a story! Thankfully you were able to help her and perhaps you've averted a situation down the road...but that is funny! Thank you for sharing. :)

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  12. Oh my word! I must be delayed too. I had never heard that before. When I 1st read that statement...I thought, "hugh? She wants the butterfly to "COOK" A Chicken?" WOW...I will ask my DH if he has heard that one B4. He will probably want to know where I heard it from...When I tell him the same woman who did the "Naughty Princess'" he will understand.:)
    Blessings,
    Valerie

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  13. What a Funny Story! I probably would not have been able to control myself... tehehehehehe
    Now I'll be thinkin' of this all day! LOL

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  14. I check your blog almost daily and I have to tell you that I almost fell out of my chair and read it three times today to make sure I was reading right. I don't know how you kept composure. Very funny story!!!

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  15. I know I am not following the "trend" with the comments, but I just want to tell you that I wish my special needs grandsons had someone like you to talk to!

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  16. Pat thanks so much! I truly enjoy going to the ICF/MR to do counseling. I worked there 20 years ago as a houseparent and I resisted going out to do counseling for years because I knew I would like it too much, I know that probably doesn't make much sense but to me it does LOL. I can be having a stressful day or a bad day and when I go out there and walk into the workshop and hear 20-30 people hollering my name and saying hello and asking how I am doing always makes the day a great one!

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