THOUGHTS

Watch Out For Labels

March 23, 2019

Labels! That is what is on my mind today. Because we are in a society where if you have or act differently from that what is considered the norm (label), you must fall into a label category. I am not saying that some of this is not necessary, but I wonder if we are not doing ourselves an injustice. We have folks who have ADHD, autism, anxiety disorder, speech disorder, depression, mood disorder, narcolepsy (which my husband had most of his adult life), Asperger's (which made me think of labels), and I am sure there are many, many more.

When I was a kid (born in 1945), my brother (born in 1940), was labeled mentally retarded (not a nice thing to be called back then). He had trouble in school, could not read, could not write and always giving my mother grief. So my dad ended up becoming self-employed (which was easier to do back then) and my brother always stayed and helped my dad. The system could not figure what to do for my brother. They did try giving support with a special teacher, schooled at home, but that only lasted a short time as she died in a car accident. My brother would never sit still, ran away (not far) a couple of time so dad was his only hope. Today he probably would have been labeled ADHD and put on drugs.

It wasn't easy for mom and dad but they did what they knew they had to do, and that was be a parent and take care of the child. I believe today, too many want someone else to take care of the problem.

My brother taught himself just about everything he wanted to. He could roller skate (jump, flip, the whole bit), swim, play an instrument, everyone liked him, ride a horse, on and on! He was given by the Lord what man could not help with.

So, what is my point? Let us not get to wrapped up in labels but look closely to the individual and their needs and how they can progress past the label. I am not a doctor or nurse but a human being who lives with two very different needs persons.

Just one persons opinion about life and the label situation.

Seabreeze