Entry Date into the Way Back Machine: September 3, 1979
Place: Point Harmony Elementary School, Afternoon Kindergarten, Charleston, West Virginia. Yes we lived in WV. My father worked for the Federal Government and wherever there was coal, was where we lived. He worked at the time as a mine inspector for the Office of Surface Mining (OSM).
**Dislosure: Please note that the quotes may not be entirely accurate as they are take from my memory and the point of view of a 5 year old at the time. However, the feelings and intentions behind the statements are totally true and factual :)
Mrs Dawson (The Main Teacher, probably only in her 20's but at the time seemed SOOO old): OK class everyone come to the center of the carpet for Circle Time and sit INDIAN STYLE.
Kindergarten is the beginning of a child's socialization and conformity training. You are learning how to adhere to a schedule, How to line up in a single file line, learning what single file means, leaning about colors,and numbers The building blocks for getting along with other people that will basically form the basis of how you will be judge going forward in your educational career are formed during these few hours. Don't be the paste eater, the stinky kid, the pee-pee pants. The labels begin here, and they are hard to shake.
Yes, the dreaded words, Indian Style. Not because in today's ever over sensitive times or worry of creating an unwarranted racial slur, but because this was something that was going to call attention to myself when it was important for conformity. Sitting Indian Style is a seemingly innocuous position for most children. UNLESS you have bilateral hip dysplaysia. It was very difficult for me to sit in that position the "correct way", and over the years including now it is pretty much impossible and extremely painful. My legs just do not fold in that way and I was constantly getting called out and asked to sit the "right way" I would do my best, when all I wanted to do was just freaking kneel and be quiet. Was it really so bothersome? I was then and am now very petite. I am sure that I would have moved if I was in anyone's way. I actually believe, and I could be wrong, that this may have been one of the seeds that was planted to sprout into some of my later social anxieties. Starting with Indian Style, we will be moving to being a "slow runner", which will move to being a "pity pick" for teams. Thankfully many Physical Education teachers wised up and recognized that the emotional scarring went beyond the 37 minutes of class and thus instituted the counting off so that all of the 1's were together, all the 2's, and so forth. Sorry superstar athletes of my grade, you were stuck with my crappy slowness. But I later developed one hell of an arm and could catch. I can even throw a football in a spiral, HA!
I am not doing this blog asking for or looking for sympathy or any "Oh you poor thing" sentiments. Please-I don't want that, nor do I need it. What I would like is for people to think twice or three times when asking children to do little things that are physical, and when they aren't perfect, maybe just go on with your lesson or activity. Not everyone who has a disability is going to have an IEP. Not every person who has a disability is going to announce it. Not every person who has a challenge or a chronic pain issue is going to let you know that they deal with it on a daily basis. Sometimes it is and has been some much a part of our lives we often just accept it as being so and go on. Everyone IS different. We are so often told this in our classrooms. The children sing songs about it, diversity and tolerance is jammed down our throats and HR departments are required to offer sensitivity seminars and training. But chronic pain, and ailments not easily seen are passed over or not acknowledged as being real. Besides who would want to be around a person who complained about their hips hurting ALL DAY LONG? Don't we have enough chronic complainers in our offices and daily life who complain about things like the weather?
On January 31 I will be having surgery. The surgery is on my left hip to repair the dysplaysia and a torn labrum. I will be doing entries of background leading up to surgery and more in depth entries about the surgeries and throughout my recovery and recovery and life after surgery. One of my goals after recovery is to be able to sit Indian Style.
I am now, and have been a very active and healthy person. The key has been to find lower impact activities as well as activities that offer modifications for my needs and abilities. I currently watch very closely my weight, do yoga, have used the elliptical trainer, and been an avid walker. Bicycle riding is also a recommended activity for people with hip issues. Although they say it is like riding a bike, I am one of those people who it is NOT like riding a bike. I cannot ride a bike without wrecking. Let's say I am not that graceful. Aquaerobics and swimming are great activities for anyone with joint issues too.
~Drive Slow~
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