I took a mental health day today. Probably doesn't do much to credit my work ethic but I needed it. I've been working now for six years, and this time of year I wonder if there is something out there better suited for me.

This is the time of year for Annual reviews. Ugh. It's the time to rewrite IEPS, pick new objectives for students, decide if services are still warranted. I consider this the time of year where I have to defend my profession, my decisions, and myself--both to teachers and to parents. I've learned, quickly, that language and speech services on a child's IEP are paramount for determining "normalcy." If only the child could talk, then they would be normal. Each year, I have to POLITELY tell teachers and parents that that is not the case.

Last year I told a parent that if I could stand on my head and do jumping jacks to make their daughter talk, I would, but I can't--she has Autism. Research says that only 50% of children with Autism will establish SOME kind of language. Parents don't want to hear that.

This year I had to defend myself with a teacher of all people. I stepped into a meeting for a child I don't service and for a classroom teacher I don't service as well and the regular SLP was out. When telling a lovely (I mean that, I am not being facetious) set of parents that the child doesn't qualify for services at this time she had the nerve to say "What Jennifer failed to mention is that language is the receptive piece and that speech is the expressive..." That is where I cut her off because she was wrong. Oh so very wrong. How dare she step over her bounds and act as if I was withholding information from the parents. Oooh. I was livid. I know I am young and that may give people the impression that I am not as knowledgeable in my field but I am and I don't like being belittled for the sake of 30 minutes of language (so the teacher can get a break, mind you) on the students' IEPS.

SO THAT IS WHY I AM TAKING A MENTAL HEALTH DAY! Perhaps I'll become a barista at Starbucks.