There is nothing funny about the psych assessment sitting on my kitchen table, mocking me with it’s pages of judgements and recommendations.
I’ve tried to find the funny of it, buried deep between the parts where the report says that contrary to all my flaws I may actually be a good parent and the parts stating I may need professional help to ever be considered normal.
I’ve tried to find humour while reading that I am flippant and aggressive. (Ya, so? Wanna make something of it?)
I’ve tried to find a way to bring humour to a report which describes me as insensitive and overly frank with a streak of exhibitionism.
Like that’s a bad thing? It’s not like I go around flashing my boobs, people. (At least not while sober.)
Excuse me while I go find a bottle of red to boost my fragile ego.
This report has been the bane of my sanity before it’s very existence. The mere thought that I had to be clinically assessed in a psychological manner because I had the nerve to take antidepressants when my child died suddenly was and still is, insulting.
The fact the psych dude read my blog and didn’t like my sense of humour, my style of writing or my content, should never have entered his rendering of my assessment.
Yet, I suspect it did.
And I’m pissed. And not in an alcoholic way.
Overall, the psych assessment found my family and me to be suitable candidates for adoption. None of us are depressed, psychopathic, suicidal or homicidal.
(I hadn’t read the report yet.)
The report wasn’t all bad. Apparently I have the parenting skills of a super hero, much to the amazement of the psych dude. My children are well adjusted (despite my personality flaws) and delightful to be around. My husband could single handily save the world with his broad shoulders and most certainly saved me from a life of dancing around a pole, the report finds.
There are other glimmers of positive reinforcement in the report, just enough to keep me from jumping off a bridge or locking myself into a padded room.
But it is an unusual and oddly disturbing moment to have your life, your personality and your very essence ripped apart and dissected by complete strangers all so that you may have the opportunity to adopt a child. It would have been much easier to find a donor, fill a turkey baster and um, baste one’s self to get a kid.
If only I had thought of that first. Damn.
I was hesitant to post about this report, as I’m a little sensitive to criticism right now. (Hmm. Wonder why.) My family and I have been under a microscope for over a year now and I’m feeling a little shy about more scrutiny. But when I made the decision to blog about the trials and tribulations of adopting, and ultimately went public with this quest of my family’s, I promised myself I would post the good, the bad, and the ugly.
And boy, was this ugly.
Ultimately, regardless of how humbling this report has been to my ego, it has been a useful tool for me and my husband. It’s bonded us closer and gave us an insight to our children that most parents don’t get. It’s made us love one another a little more tenderly, because we now know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that momma is ape-shit crazy and you never know when she’s gonna come unglued.
Er, I mean, we all have our personal flaws printed in black and white and there is no need to point them out to one another anymore. We have an official document broadcasting them for all to read.
This report, in all it’s painful glory did more than knock me down a peg or two and make me reach for my wine glass. It gave me a small gift in fine print, buried amongst all the harsh findings of what an incredible nut job I really am.
It told me how much my family really loves me, and how unbelievably amazing all of them really are. Flaws and all. Not that I needed a three thousand dollar psychological assessment to tell me that. I already knew.
But now I have proof.
******EDIT:******
I just want to clarify for everyone that we were RECOMMENDED for approval. We still have yet to be approved. This means the home assessment and our psych assessment and the recommendation will be forwarded to the adoption headquarters magic kingdom and some fairy prince or princess will read the recommendation and assessments and rubber stamp it yes or no. My adoption case workers assure us they are confident our application will be approved. I’m placing my sanity in their hands and trusting they wouldn’t lie to me. After all, you don’t lie to crazy people and I’m certifiable. The report said so.
And thanks for all the support. It’s good to know someone likes me. Because I’m positive the psych dude didn’t.






flutter
remember please, too that those people who wrote that report, are people. They are not infallible.
RD
Those of us who know you only through your blog would say that there are few people as real and as funny and as loving as you are. I do wonder what the report would’ve been like had they not read your blog. Someone whose life is as rich and who has experienced both love and loss, and can write about it as intensely as you have, would probably deviate a bit from the norm on those idiot psych evaluations. You know that psych dude LOVED your blog! Everyone should be nutty as you are–we might all be doing good as you.
slouching mom
The bottom line, my sweet RM, is that you have been accepted. And if I were you? I’d burn that report. You’ve probably already memorized it anyway.
Molly's mom
Don’t we all have a little bit of the crazies? You are incredibly brave to subject yourself and your family to that level of scrutiny. As a provider of services to special needs kiddos, I think it is AWESOME that you want to adopt one of the little darlings…they are a lot of fun!
Stepford Mom
Ok, you made me come out of the lurking corner for this. Thank whichever deity and all the events that have shaped you into the person you are. We are a sum of our parts and there is no normal. There are those that survive and find ways of doing things, even when unaware, that help others survive. That is what makes us all human.
Even if no one ever comes out and says it, there is still someone out there that is going to find inspiration or comfort in something that they have seen here, or by knowing you in person. If we were all normal and fit into the boxes we are supposed to, the world would be a boring place.
I can’t see a better set of people to do the job you’re applying for. Someone has to run around and do the crazy stuff, it gives the neighbors something to talk about.
BetteJo
You’re a lot less crazy than half the folks out there who hold everything in and never work anything out. And the anti-depressants – I take them and I always will most likely, and I have not lost a child. Geez! Do these people have hearts?
b*babbler
I’m with Slouching Mom on this one… definitely burn it. ‘Cause you know that years from now you’ll pull it out of a drawer and re-read it and it will only piss you off/upset you all over again.
I believe that if any of us was analyzed the way you were, we’d all be found bat shit crazy. Really, who *is* normal?
And most importantly – they approved you!
Hetha
It seems like a totally subjective assessment, and you ended up getting a total dickhead on top of it all. I think you’ve got sumo-wrestler strength combined with gut-busting humor and can handle just about anything life throws your way. And that makes for some mad parenting skillz.
Tiger Lamb Girl
What Slouching Mom said.
You were accepted. THAT speaks louder than any perceived criticisms;).
It’s funny how we always feel the pang of the negative – and how it lingers longer than anything positive. Make a choice. Choose to see the positive in all this — and looks at the negatives as opportunity;).
Much love – oxoxox
Sarcastic Mom
See, there’s hope for all us f-ups around the world after all.
I’m glad you’re able to draw the positive from something even when it stings a bit.
And remember to take any psych assessment with a HUGE grain of salt. It’s all put together by humans, who may need their own “assessments.”
Bri
We all love you and I’m with those who said to burn it. You are the funniest woman on the net and I’m so glad I found your site. You are so honest about your laughter and your pain, more people should be this way.
daysgoby
See, now I’d have parts of it emblazoned on a t-shirt and then go do something really bad and illegal and bat-shit crazy. When the cops finally got me, I’d point to my shirt and grin.
No, I wouldn’t, not really, but I hope it made you smile!
The nice part about this part is that it’s OVER.
Mac and Cheese
I doubt that too many people ever receive a perfect, glowing report after an assessment like that. It is good that you have found the fine print, but I think it would serve you well to file the report away for a while if you don’t want to burn it.
Kyla
It is the good kind of crazy, friend. The kind that makes us love you.
Lora
That psyche dude might have roasted you and your blog on the report, but deep down…you know he’s reading you regularly.
Smiling Mom
I really liked this post. Although all your other posts are so entertaining, this one kind of opened up and showed us a rawer side of you.
I can’t imagine having to read a report about myself. I’m terrified to know what others have to say about me behind my back, but an actual report card on my personality? Don’t think I could handle that.
It’s clear that you are doing well, and your sense of humor is a huge attribute.
Hang in there. The end game just got a bit closer!
jen
oh, honey. those paper pushers can kiss all of our asses. (hi, paper pushers!)
seriously, they’ve got to do what they got to do to cover their ass. it’s all you, sister. you shine.
mothergoosemouse
There’s no doubt that I’m overdosing on hormones right now, but I’m really, REALLY angry on your behalf.
Being recommended for approval is all well and good, and I’m thrilled to pieces for you, but I really think the psych dude ought to go…okay, I won’t say it. But you know what I’m thinking.
jacquie
I must ask, how did he come to read your blog?? Is this a question on the form? Do you have a blog? check here What is said blogs name? add here
kgirl
Just because we haven’t all been subjected to a family psyche exam doesn’t mean that we aren’t all crazy in one way or another. Seriously, I would hate to read what a ‘professional’ had to say about me, and look! I’m gonna push out another kid any day now!