WWYD? parenting/career/emotions

I will post on parenting because I feel it relates more on this board (although it concerns work).

Last weekend, a mom brought her son (40's) to get a massage. She asked to come with him which was not a problem and I knew that meant he had a disability of some sort.

Without the door closed, she said right away "he is handicapped so he may not understand all the questions you may ask him". Honestly, I usually ask what the disability would be but I was so shocked that she just said it that way without asking for privacy that I just said "OK" and took him in the room.

While doing the massage, for the 1st time I got VERY emotional. I was thinking how the mom just said "he is handicapped" like he was not even understanding. I could see that he was "slower" and of course, I started to thing about DS. YUP.... not a good combination right now to show me what I could be looking at in the future. His mom had to drive him there, take care of everything, she was aging, etc... I started to wonder if that was going to be our lives too. Me driving DS around when he is 45... geez I could even be dead of old age by now.

Well, you get the picture of how hard it was for me.

I am thinking about asking my work to NOT gave me such clients. I feel bad in a way because they give me older clients sometimes because they know I am very patient with them but I feel it's was just too hard for me this weekend. It just hit home too much! KWIM!

Re: WWYD? parenting/career/emotions

What a tough situation

Do you have a good relationship with your boss? Maybe you can mention this incident in conversation and stress how sad/uncomfortable you felt and casually say how you hope not to have too many client like that or something.

Re: WWYD? parenting/career/emotions

first of all, lots of .

after my father had a catastrophic stroke and was treated in the hospital i was working at, i had to take an entire year away from that place. the reminders were everywhere. i felt like i was going crazy. every patient reminded me of him somehow.

i think it's a good idea to "screen" your clients for a while, if that's possible. honestly, i would do whatever it takes to take care of yourself and allow yourself the time that you need to get a hold of yourself and of your situation.

lots of love

Re: WWYD? parenting/career/emotions

I think it's OK for you to request that this type of client be referred to someone else. Your emotions are still so raw and you are dealing with a lot of stuff right now. I would imagine it would be difficult not to break down and start crying in a situation like this and I am sure your employer wouldn't want that. Like the PP said, if you have a good relationship with your boss, talk to him or her about it.