Kelly, “Don’t touch!”

Kelly and Monica started speech therapy about a month ago on Thursdays. On one particular Thursday, I picked Kelly up from school and asked the teacher how she did.

“Well, Kelly had a hard time keeping her hands to herself. She kept touching the other students.”

“Oh, we’re working on that at home. Kelly touches EVERYTHING. Thanks for telling me.”

So we go home for lunch and have 1 1/2 hours before speech therapy. Guess what the topic of conversation is for that entire time? -Kelly, you have to keep your hands to yourself. Don’t touch other people without their permission. If you want to touch other people, don’t, just sit on your hands. Like this. OK? It’s not polite to touch other people. What are you going to do if you want to touch people? Right, sit on your hands. Show me. Good job. Don’t touch other people. OK?

Speech therapy. It’s a group therapy session. All the parents sit behind a one-way mirror from 1:00-2:30 in a tiny dark room, in silence, watching, and listening while our children learn to interact in socially appropriate ways. All the children have cognitive speech problems, ranging from ADHD to complete non-speakers.

Monica immediately latches on to the ADHD boy named Lamont. She thinks he is so funny always jumping out of his seat and getting in trouble. (File for future reference – if this is the type of student she takes to in class she’ll never lack for entertainment or her own share of trouble – which she’s already learning the hard way, but that’s another story.)

Kelly, who NEVER stops talking, has taken to the beautiful, petite, silent child named Tiana. I always sit beside Tiana’s mom. She is also very silent. On this Thursday, I sit and watch as Kelly plays with Tiana, giving her toys, talking to her about the toys, interacting FOR her with the toys. Ok, good. I’m willing Kelly to keep her hands to herself and play appropriately!

Circle time. Kelly takes Tiana’s hand and leads her to a chair. Kelly continues to hold Tiana’s hand. Kelly takes Tiana’s hand and points to the teacher to answer a question, FOR Tiana. Kelly feels Tiana’s cornrows. Kelly fixes Tiana’s shirt. Speech therapist asks Kelly to keep her hands to herself. Kelly holds Tiana’s hand. Kelly takes Tiana’s headband off. Kelly fixes Tiana’s hair. Kelly puts the headband back on Tiana’s head. Speech therapist tells Kelly to keep her hands to herself. I turn to Tiana’s mom and apologize. “We just talked about this at home. I’m trying to teach her not to touch things.” She chuckles but doesn’t say, “That’s ok. I understand.”

Story time. Kelly grabs Tiana around the waist to lead her to the floor. All my will power is gone. It’s torture to sit and watch. I turn to Tiana’s mom and apologize again. I turn back to the mirror. Kelly, in leading Tiana to the floor, has tripped and both girls are on the floor, Kelly on top of Tiana. In agony I ask the other parents if I’m allowed to interrupt the therapy session. Sure, they say. After all, Lamont’s dad raps on the mirror every time Lamont misbehaves, which is literally about every 5 minutes. That’s 18 interruptions a session right there. So,

I bust in. “I’m so sorry to interrupt but can I talk to Kelly really quickly? Kelly, remember? KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF!!!”

I walk back to the room and see Kelly with a really confused look on her face, still holding Tiana’s hand. She totally doesn’t get it. And that’s Kelly in a nutshell.