u/Zadyria_Gelm

Medical misogyny is as old as medicine. I was shocked to learn the meaning of "pudendum"!

My baby girl turned 24 today! (Level 3/Profound, functionally non-verbal and diapered, also has Cerebral Palsy.)

It was a good day! We went out to an early dinner with my in-laws (her grandparents) to celebrate. Cracker Barrel, because that's her favorite - food and shopping all in one. She tried a new food! Just one bite, but she tried it! She was happy and cuddly the whole time.

The staff was awesome and brought her (free) cake. Also, this might not seem like a big thing, but it touched my heart - the server spoke to her directly. He asked her what she wanted. I answered when she didn't respond. He repeated it to her and said, "Grilled cheese, right?" She echoed, "grilled cheese." He said, "and some okra?" She echoed, "okra." He winked at me. I was almost in happy tears. No one (outside of family) even tries to speak to her directly - and he didn't have to, because I gave him the order (which she had chosen herself with me).

After eating, she said, "Potty!" OMFG YOU GUYS!!! This NEVER happens!!! We went to the restroom and SHE PEED!!! IN THE TOILET!!!"

Then we went shopping in the store section. She selected items herself and handed them to me. She didn't bite them, or try to open them, or stim on the gummy bear package! She just got them and handed them to me!

A very happy birthday for us all!!!

Like most women I know, and for generation upon generation, having a period has been treated as gross, disgusting, some shameful secret. Abrahamic religions raise girls to believe we are "unclean" when our hoo-hahs bleed, Aunt Flow comes to visit, the Red Sea crashes, "that time of the month," "hell week," PMS, "the cardinals fly south," and a hundred other euphemisms for a natural process 50% of the population deals with daily.

We are not dirty. We are not disgusting. We are not unclean.

In fact, period blood may hold the answers to a million medical issues. We are born healers - we just didn't know it because no one ever thought to look.

Her shorts series on medical misogyny and breakthroughs in period research is well worth watching!

My first rewatch. Man. Bill and Laura hits harder than it did 20 years ago, maybe because I'm their age now. Maybe it hits harder because I watched everything over a week, instead of years. Damn. I don't cry over shows, but I am now. It all hit harder. Watching the whole thing and knowing the surprises added a depth and perspective I didn't have the first time around, almost like a new experience with an old friend. Hands down an amazing masterpiece of cinema.

There is a self-defense and restraint technique named Handle With Care, website is here.

I was a counselor, for 13 years, in a max-security prison for boys aged 12-21. We were trained in Handle With Care. These moves/restraints are effective and, most importantly, DO NOT CAUSE PAIN to the child. I know they don't hurt because I've been restrained hundreds of times, taken clear to the floor in practice. I'm physically disabled, and it still never hurt. Husband and I practiced on and with each other many, many times.

We've rarely had to Primary Restraint Technique (PRT) our 23yo daughter over the years, but it has been necessary a few times. We've taught our 20yo son to use the technique if she's hurting herself or others.

I've seen a lot of posts about aggression, SIB, parents getting hurt, etc. I wanted to share this with you. It really will help and keep everyone safe.

In a PRT, your kid can't hit, or bite you. They can't kick you. You can hang on even if they're bigger or stronger. They might be able to pinch your sides, but they'd have to think of it first, and none of the boys I restrained in the prison ever thought to pinch.

Handle With Care has been a lifesaver!

Just wanted to share my joy!

A few days ago, kiddo managed to communicate to me that she needed Pepto, original post.

Every day since then, she has asked for "medicine" or "pink medicine"! So we officially have new word(s)! And she's not just asking because she likes the taste or she'd be asking more than once a day. She understands it calms her tummy, which is huge!

And "a white one" is back to meaning a wintergreen Lifesaver.

She's 23 years old, and still learning new words. Don't give up hope on your non-verbal littles!

My daughter (23yo, Level 3/Profound, also has Cerebral Palsy, functionally non-verbal and diapered) just amazed me!

She's been having some reflux issues, which we've been treating with gummies, TUMS and ginger. When that's not enough, a rare dose of Pepto. Pepto is kinda wintergreen flavored.

My Mom carried Lifesavers everywhere, various flavors. When my daughter still talked (when she was very young) Mom would offer her some and ask what color she wanted. Wintergreen was her favorite, and she'd say, "A white one."

Yesterday, she came to me and said, "a white one"! I searched high and low and produced a wintergreen Lifesaver. She looked at it and pushed my hand away. "A white one." I was confused. She went in the kitchen and reached for the cabinet with the Pepto. *CLICK* I asked if she needed the pink medicine. No reply. I got it anyway and offered her a dose. She sucked it out of the syringe like a hoover! She was so excited to be understood (and feel better) that she had a bouncing, happy celebration.

A few minutes ago, she asked me for "a white one." I asked, "A white one, or the pink medicine?" She answered, "Pink medicine"!!!

She put together that the Pepto tastes like a wintergreen Lifesaver and found a way to communicate her needs!