Parent Responsibility

I'm not even going to set up the scene, the exchange will speak for itself.  I was working with two students and here goes a conversation I will NEVER forget.

Names have been changed for privacy, as always.  Meet Tom and Bob.

Tom: Ms. Sabio, did I just masturbate?
Me: What?!  Why would you ask me that?!
Tom:  Because I just touched myself and you looked at me.

(My mind is spinning...)

Me:  I looked at you because I was talking to you!
Tom: Oh.

(I have no idea what's happening right now...)

Bob:  What's masturbate?

(Before I could wrap my mind around where this conversation was going...)

Tom:  It's when you touch yourself (so matter of fact).  Ms. Sabio is it ok to touch myself?
Me: No, not here in the speech room.
Tom:  Where then?
Me: Um...in the bathroom, at home?  You should most definitely talk to your parents about this.
Tom:  Oh ok.

Oh, my, goodness.  Yes this really happened.
I am not trained to explain this stuff to teenage boys.

Lesson to parents:  Please educate your teens about sexual maturity, please!  This is most definitely beyond my scope of practice.

Filters

A lot of students I work with have difficulty using filters during conversation, which is one of the characteristics of a pragmatic language disorder.  While I'm sharing this story for the purpose of humor, these incidents are prime examples of student difficulties with social language and also an example of teaching moments. In these teaching moments, i explain why their comments were inappropriate and it's also a chance to discuss better choices of words next time around.

I was working with a small group one day, and we'll call them *John, *Mike, and *Jim.  All of these students are on the Autism Spectrum.  One of the DIS counselors came into my room and asked to see John for a quick second regarding some paperwork.  A lot of the students I work with such as John, can be highly anxious at times, and likes routines.   When there is a disruption in their routine, they can be thrown off and as a result can become very distressed to the point of meltdown.  

With that being said, John didn't hear the quick second, jumped up out of his seat and yelled quite loudly, "I don't want to go with you, you old hag!"  My first thought was, "that's a first, I've never heard "old hag" used as an insult before," my second inappropriate thought was "hilarious!" but because I HAVE a filter, I did not laugh and thought, " a teaching moment has presented itself."  I explained to John that what he said to the DIS counselor was not nice, and that he needs to apologize, which he did, quite sincerely.  The DIS counselor explained to John why she needed him for a short period of time and his response was "oh."  He left with her and when he returned, I used this opportunity to work the group and help him come up with alternatives way to react, versus what he did.  

Another instance with John was when I was once again working with him in a small group.  He comes in and immediately says:  

John: Ms. Sabio, hi. I'm not in a good mood today.

Me: I'm sorry John, how come?

John: It's because I'm tired.  I'm tired because I had to wake up early.  My mom woke me up early and now I'm tired.  That curse-d woman!!

He seems to be an old soul when it comes to insulting others, calling them "old hag" and "that curse-d woman."  I had to use my filter and not laugh, because, once again, I thought it was hilarious.  This was another teaching moment and I had to redirect his choice of words.  As always, he was apologetic and begged me not to tell his mom.  John really is a sweet kid, but I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of his bad mood.  Who knows what he would call me!!