Open mouth, insert foot

Specialties Disabilities

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Specializes in Public Health, DEI.

Today, a colleague, whose background is, interestingly, as a Special Education Program Specialist started asking me about a 2 year old who "walks on her tippy toes". Upon quizzing her about this child's emerging language, play skills, behavior patterns, etc. I told her that I thought the child should be assessed. I wasn't flippant, but I was rather blunt. I had no idea we were talking about a personal situation here. Turns out she has twin granddaughters and has been concerned about one of them for quite a while. Apparently, the Mom had this child at the ped's office and he questioned her about the tiptoe walking. I guess the Mom, my colleague's daughter in law, first mentioned it to her in a nonchalant way, but later in the conversation asked what it might mean. The little girl will be rechecked in 10 days, and perhaps the ped will make an EI referral at that time. It's hard to say. At any rate, I made Grandma cry. I sure didn't mean to do that! :o

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Specializes in Family.

MTP, I don't think you did anything wrong! I've been in similar situations and I now ask "Why? Do you know someone?" or something like that. Maybe this was a needed push in the right direction. Hugs to you!

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Specializes in Public Health, DEI.
MTP, I don't think you did anything wrong! I've been in similar situations and I now ask "Why? Do you know someone?" or something like that. Maybe this was a needed push in the right direction. Hugs to you!

Thank you, southernlpn. I will definitely make a point of asking something along those lines from now on. I probably would have under other circumstances, but like I said, with this woman's background, it just never occured to me that it might be personal. I do hope it was just one more nudge in the right direction, it sounds as if both Grandma and Mom are moving that way, but I know it is hard.

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