Hi all. I'm happy to be joining up with Jessica Cassity from The Speech Space and other talented bloggers for this opportunity for us to use our blogs to learn more about each other. After much thought, I've decided NOT to tell you that I have one dog and one cat, but rather to share experiences that have made me the person that I am today. So, here's five things you don't know about me!
1. The fight for the bathroom was real!
Eight really is enough! I grew up in a large (huge by today's standards) family, a wonderful family of 8! My large polish catholic family consisted of 3 brothers and 2 sisters, and my parents. Our humble abode was always crowded and we only had one bathroom! If you weren't on time for Sunday dinner, you probably didn't eat because your 5 more timely siblings would have gobbled everything up!
Eight really is enough! I grew up in a large (huge by today's standards) family, a wonderful family of 8! My large polish catholic family consisted of 3 brothers and 2 sisters, and my parents. Our humble abode was always crowded and we only had one bathroom! If you weren't on time for Sunday dinner, you probably didn't eat because your 5 more timely siblings would have gobbled everything up!
2. My first years as an SLP!
I started my SLP career working with adolescents and adults with traumatic brain injuries. I was passionate about this population and had a stint as an administrator and clinical director with a brain injury rehabilitation company in Chicago. These experiences taught me that administrative positions are not for everyone, including me!! During this period, I published a book on brain injury rehabilitation called "The Reintegration Resource."
I started my SLP career working with adolescents and adults with traumatic brain injuries. I was passionate about this population and had a stint as an administrator and clinical director with a brain injury rehabilitation company in Chicago. These experiences taught me that administrative positions are not for everyone, including me!! During this period, I published a book on brain injury rehabilitation called "The Reintegration Resource."
3. I love the outdoors.
I once spent a week at as a volunteer at a brain injury overnight camp for adults. I slept in the same cabins as the campers, pushed wheelchairs through the woods, helped with feeding, bathing and toileting, suffered numerous insect bites and lived to tell about it!
I once spent a week at as a volunteer at a brain injury overnight camp for adults. I slept in the same cabins as the campers, pushed wheelchairs through the woods, helped with feeding, bathing and toileting, suffered numerous insect bites and lived to tell about it!
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| That's me, sledding, an annual tradition for my family on Christmas day! |
4. Stigma buster!
I have a daughter who has a significant anxiety disorder. Her life was especially tough during her high school years and things that are easy for many of us are difficult for her. She is an amazing young woman. I have learned so much being her mother. I am a more compassionate person and therapist and I have learned not to judge the parenting journeys of others!
I have a daughter who has a significant anxiety disorder. Her life was especially tough during her high school years and things that are easy for many of us are difficult for her. She is an amazing young woman. I have learned so much being her mother. I am a more compassionate person and therapist and I have learned not to judge the parenting journeys of others!
5. My father, my inspiration.
My father, stuttered into his twenties but I knew him as a fluent speaker all of my young life. When I was in graduate school, I wrote home (yes, real paper and pen letters-these were the pre-email days) about my clinic experiences with an adult who stuttered. The next time I was home, my father disclosed his childhood and young adult experiences as a stutterer over a long breakfast of bacon and eggs at our kitchen table.
My father, stuttered into his twenties but I knew him as a fluent speaker all of my young life. When I was in graduate school, I wrote home (yes, real paper and pen letters-these were the pre-email days) about my clinic experiences with an adult who stuttered. The next time I was home, my father disclosed his childhood and young adult experiences as a stutterer over a long breakfast of bacon and eggs at our kitchen table.
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| My Dad loved Christmas! |
Well, if you've made it this far in my blog piece, I want to thank you for taking a few moments to learn more about me! If you have had any similar experiences, I'd love to hear about them. Please comment!! Be sure to check out the pieces by the other fabulous bloggers at The Speech Space (she's doing a give-away) and thanks for getting to know me!
Donna
What a sweet picture of your father!!! It's so interesting what we learn about one another when we open up! Thanks so much for sharing and linking up!
ReplyDeleteMy maiden name looks like it's Polish, but we're actually German. We were fortunate enough to have 3 bathrooms for 10 of us, so there weren't too many fights for the bathroom! :)
ReplyDeleteSnow on Christmas...I can't imagine!
I have a family member who also suffers from depression that really struggled in high school. I try to remember that we never know what others are going through. On a lighter note, I love the picture of you in the snow:)!
ReplyDeleteI love that you are a published author! Way to go! Thanks for sharing about your daughter and father, too. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post! Your love for your daughter shines through; what a journey you both must have had! I thought I had it tough growing up with one bathroom and 2 sisters--but 8?? Things must feel luxurious now!
ReplyDeleteHi! I enjoyed reading about you! My son as aspergers and anxiety with many social situations! I have learned so much from him too!
ReplyDelete-Mandi of Panda Speech