Retired at 27

Beth had a working job interview on Thursday. I asked her how it went and she said, "Okay."

Now, I've read some of your blogs where you talk about your kids giving speeches or acting in plays. Beth is not like that at all. There are many days when she rarely speaks. When it comes to true conversation, it's difficult for her. You really have to coax it out of her, ask the right questions and be very patient for the answer.

So with an answer like 'okay', I began to ask her questions. We've also learned that Beth will answer with the last thing she heard. She's done this her entire life. I remember when she was really small and we'd ask her what she wanted to drink, milk or juice, "Juice." Juice or milk, "Milk." Just to be sure I once asked her if she wanted to go to the moon or go shopping, "Shopping." Shopping or the moon, "Moon."

So we have to be careful not to 'lead the witness' as they say. I asked her if she'd want to work at Marshalls and she said, "Maybe." If I ask her why, she just shrugs her shoulders. If I suggest something, like, did you like the person who trained you, she'll automatically say yes. I have to phrase the question in a way that forces her to think of an answer on her own. So the conversation went like this:

"Beth what was it about the store that makes you not want to work there?"

She thinks for a few minutes. "The people."

I think for a minute. "The people you worked with or the people who were shopping?"

"Shopping."

"What didn't you like about the people who were shopping?"

After a while of this, I finally learned that she doesn't want to work at Marshalls because the shoppers get in the way of her doing her job. Okaaay. Hmm. Then she said she wants to work with books and music. I told her that she wouldn't be able to read the books or listen to the music, she'd have to orgainze them and clean them and work. She said that was okay.

She's been out of work for almost a year and actually seems to be doing okay. She stays busy during the week, her SSI each month covers her expenses, she probably doesn't need to work. I certainly wish I was in her shoes!!

But she says she wants to work. I think I'll talk to her job coach about the library. It has books and music!