I wish I wasn’t such a pussy…. (759 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 0.94 on 18 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by <fallenangel> (View user info) at 2005-07-30 16:26:07 EDT
This is my first attempt at writing on one of these sites ... so be truthful, but try not to break me. I'm fragile.
Anyway ... here goes nothing.
I just finished a week of volunteering at a summer camp for disabled children. This wasn't my first time - I've been working there on and off for eleven years. Last year, I couldn't make it out there, so most of the staff didn't know who I was this year because there's a ridiculously high turn-over rate. I used to be a Staff Trainer, a position among the six positions that ran the entire camp. This time, however, I was just working as a one-on-one counselor.
I got there Tuesday morning and was assigned to help out with a young autistic girl who was being somewhat of a pain in the ass. She was nine years old and the epitome of cute --- as long as she wasn't trying to beat the shit out of you or bite you on the boob. Occasionally, children who have behavior issues like hers have to be restrained in order to protect them and others around them. The most used restraint is called a "Basket Hold" where you immobilize the person who is trying to harm themselves or others by grabbing their wrists from behind and tucking their hands under their elbows while taking them down to the ground wrapping your legs around theirs so they can't move. This position is held until you are able to calm them down enough so that they are no longer a threat.
But I digress ...
Like I was saying, my camper was the personification of cute, but she also happened to have the habit of slapping the shit out of you or head-butting your nearest body part if she didn't get her way. And on the morning in question she wanted to go swimming before breakfast. I tried to reason with her and tell her we would go after breakfast and that the pool was closed, but anyone who has interacted with a person with autism knows that it isn't always easy to reason with them. So I commenced the inevitable dodging of the head and deflecting of the hands.
I was pretty tired by this time (Thursday morning) - both physically and of being head butted in the face- so I decided to just wrap my arms around her, sit her in my lap, and let her go off in a position where it was harder for her to reach me.
While I was in this position I heard a voice from the small group of people who had started to gather in our area yell "You're not aloud to restrain your camper!"
I glanced up- narrowly missing my camper's latest attempt to reach back and rip out a chunk of my hair- and said back into the crowd as I ducked (in a calm voice) "I am not restraining her."
Which was true enough, it doesn't count as a restraint unless the person is fully immobilized. And it was perfectly obvious that my camper still had full use of all her limbs as she reached back and smacked me in the face.
I thought that would be the end of our little conversation- as I was clearly right and assumed anyone who had the slightest idea what they were talking about would realize that and drop it- but five seconds later the same voice came back with "You are restraining her RIGHT NOW!"
This time I looked up long enough to see who was talking to me. There stood a very pissed off 14 - maybe 15- year old girl who was standing by her perfectly calm camper glaring at me.
As I went back to focusing on my self defense- as my look up had cost me a few shots to the abdomen- I repeated (a little more agitated) "I am not restraining her."
By this point I was slightly annoyed.
I WASN'T restraining my camper, but even if I was, little miss know-it-all still wouldn't be able to say anything about it because I AM aloud to restrain campers if the situation calls for it because I used to be a Staff Trainer.
Hoping that she would get the hint that she was just making things worse- my camper was now screaming while trying to beat me- I just turned back to the situation at hand without saying anything more. No luck. No sooner had I turned back came
"I'M SERIOUS; YOU ARE NOT ALOUD TO RESTRAIN YOUR CAMPER!"
I shot back with "I AM NOT RESTRAINING HER!" in a tone and with a facial expression that finally convinced her to shut the fuck up.
I was pissed- both because I managed to receive a few new bruises and because an annoying busy-body know-it-all who was almost half my age had managed to humiliate me in front of the ever growing group of people.
But did I put her in her place? Did I turn the humiliation around on her? Did I point out the fact that she was trying to reprimand someone who had taught ALL of the people who taught her? No. Why? Because I'm a pussy. I don't like causing other people discomfort even when they are doing it to me. Pathetic.
But if I had it to do over again it would go something like this....
Annoying bitch: "I'M SERIOUS; YOU ARE NOT ALOUD TO RESTRAIN YOUR CAMPER!"
Me: "Look, you insignificant little twerp. I have been working at this camp since you were in diapers. I was a Staff Trainer for a year and was lead staff for seven years before that. I used to TEACH the restraint classes, so I think I know what a fucking restraint looks like. AND THIS ISN'T IT. SO SHUT UP AND MIND YOUR OWN FUCKING BUSINESS!!"
Annoying bitch: Stunned, humiliated silence.
That would have been sweet.
Too bad I'm such a pussy.
User Reviews
Submitted by fallenangel (user info) at 2005-08-03 02:27:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Thanks, Rasta. That makes me feel a little better ... but it still would have felt nice to tell her off instead of being a decent person.
Submitted by Ducky (user info) at 2005-08-02 05:35:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by supadupapupa (user info) at 2005-08-02 04:57:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Actually this was entertaining
Submitted by Rasta (user info) at 2005-08-02 04:14:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
? You were being a kind and generous person. It is sad that our society paints you as a pussy.
It is not necessary to be rude to someone merely because they are rude to you. That is weakness.
The pussy would scream back because they could not control their reactions. It takes strength and character to behave well in a tough situation. You are not a pussy.
Submitted by mxc_jwebber (user info) at 2005-07-30 22:35:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Crystle (user info) at 2005-07-30 17:07:33 (#)
Ranking: 1
I've worked with autistic kids.. only, mildly autistic... points for that.. and for not just killing the other twerp in her sleep.
Well written, welcome to uber
---------------------------------
Autistic kids rock!
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2005-07-30 19:18:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
I'll +1 you because at least you know where you stand.
Submitted by mikethescottish (user info) at 2005-07-30 18:52:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Oh lawdy, fragility is not a good thing to have here. Your post needed a better conclusion, otherwise it was a good effort.
Submitted by SullyThePirate (user info) at 2005-07-30 18:36:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
pussy.
Submitted by MrSparkle847 (user info) at 2005-07-30 18:25:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Good for a first post. Far better than my first.
Submitted by Viciousriffs (user info) at 2005-07-30 18:05:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Word of warning:
Do NOT post something this long and state that it is your first effort. Makes people like me not care- but at least I'm not giving the negative rating you deserve for that statement.
I'm benevolent, what can I tell you?
Submitted by Chroniclysm (user info) at 2005-07-30 17:41:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Not a bad start.
Submitted by c1ndy (user info) at 2005-07-30 17:10:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I too work with some autistic kids, I'm not a massive fan of restraining them though.
Submitted by Crystle (user info) at 2005-07-30 17:07:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
I've worked with autistic kids.. only, mildly autistic... points for that.. and for not just killing the other twerp in her sleep.
Well written, welcome to uber
Submitted by Maddog (user info) at 2005-07-30 16:58:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
What's the big deal with autistic kids? So what if they can draw really well. I don't think that that entitles them to special treatment.
Submitted by Stin (user info) at 2005-07-30 16:47:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
You are "allowed" to restrain her. You were shouting "aloud".
Welcome to Uber. Next time, shout at the annoying little know-it-all. It feels good.
Submitted by MrWillard (user info) at 2005-07-30 16:44:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
meh
Submitted by Genko (user info) at 2005-07-30 16:40:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
This was good after the first couple sentences.
Quit being such a pussy; if you want to write, do it without apology.
Submitted by Herpes (user info) at 2005-07-30 16:32:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Hey Electro, what's the name of that camp you go to, where the people have to restrain you?