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A SOCIAL SECURITY PRIMA DONNA
Published On 07-25-2009 , 10:51 PM
CHILDREN in the foster care system have a tough row to hoe. And if they are involved with the Social Security Administration, the plot thickens. Their troubles aren't just with the Department of Children and Family Services who have removed them from their families.
Foster children, all too often, are mistreated by far too many people who are supposed to be providing them services and also by members of the general public who quite often seem to think these kids don't qualify as real people.
"I thought she was your foster daughter," I've had people say to me regarding some program I've decided to enroll my Brandi in.
"Wow, you treat her just like your own kid," other people have exclaimed.
"What are you here for?" demanded the female doctor who was to examine Brandi for her SSI claim.
"Who sent you and why?" she continued after announcing Brandi had scored high on sections of the psychological examination she had just administered.
Well, I didn't know why I was there other than Social Security said it needed more information. But saying this just wasn't enough for Ms. Examiner, who proceeded to call me a prima donna and tell me she had several degrees in art and in spite of my attitude she was willing to help us.
Attitude? Well, after Brandi was in the examination room for over two hours I inquired as to when the exam would be completed so I could leave and return to pick her up.
"I'm not used to working with people like you," I was told, and then came the big question: "What do you want for this child, anyway?"
Answering was simple. "I want the best for her. She will complete college and pursue her life dream."
Then came the bombshell: "She says she wants to be an animator but there is a recession going on and she really needs to first think about becoming an architect."
But Ms. Examiner had early on while discussing Brandi's high-ranking areas on the examination let it be known that the child had not done well in math.
Well, from architecture she shuffled the tirade to Brandi becoming a "colorist," and Brandi, she said, could take an interior design course at UCLA.
But animator, who did we think we were?
Well, prima donna I'm not, but adamant I am. While there is nothing wrong with trade schools, where Ms. Examiner also suggested Brandi enroll, as a family we've made our own assessment of which road our young lady shall travel in order to recognize her life dream.
Should Brandi's dream be any less attainable because she's a former foster kid? Should it be out of reach because she has psychological issues?
Meet Brandi - the foster part can officially be dropped, because she aged out of the system when she became 18 years old - as a guest on "Talk About Parenting with Shirlee Smith," live, PCAC Charter channel 56, Wednesday, July 29, noon to 1:00 p.m.
She'll be talking about her art and her higher aspirations. You be the judge: Should she aim for a lower rung on the ladder of success?
Yes, I'm ready for the Social Security appeal process, as I've been through this kind of nonsense before and quite clearly understand that the power of approving or denying a claim lies in the hands of Ms. Examiner.
This blog can be found in our column section where you can print a copy or e-mail to someone
http://talkaboutparenting.org/pages/articles.php
 Tune-in Wednesdays Noon to 1:00 p.m. Talk Abut Parenting with Shirlee Smith LIVE Call-in at 626- 794-2116 or 794-2551. PCAC Charter Channel 56 in Pasadena. Return to our home page and click the channel 56 logo for streaming. See our calendar listing for show guest and for further information.
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Comment
| | 1. | She may as well called her a "banana eating jungle monkey." It's all the same mindset.
Brandi -- Shoot for the stars. Aim high! And be sure to crush all of the Ms Examiners %28aka haters%29 as you pass them up on the bottom rung of the ladder.
- by Peggy, 07-31-2009, 6:41 PM
| | 2. | Wow!
That Ms Examiner gave you terrible "customer service" and was a complete idiot. She should be fired or at least disciplined for the way she treated you and spoke to you. It is very sad to me that there are people like that in our area, working for the government and getting paid while being disgusting. I hope you made a complaint.
- by Sissy, 07-26-2009, 9:00 AM
| | 3. | What's up with "I'm not used to working with people like you"? What does THAT mean! What an insult and could be taken several ways. Did you report her to her superior? That was in order. How shameful. But of course, keeping your "cool" was probably the best. However she still needs to be reported.
- by Owen, 07-26-2009, 8:56 AM
| | 4. | I honestly don't think anyone should aim for lower rungs on the ladder. They may have to accept their roles on the ladder as temporary or their limit, but they should not start out aiming lower.
My daughter and I was talking one day when I brought up the subject of what did she want to grow up to be. she said "I wanna do what mommy does" I asked her "you want to be a CPA?"%28thinking she had finally made it by now%29 aren't you a little young to be thinking about a job in accounting?" "she giggled and said "no daddy, I want to be a waitress and serve people" I was floored by this and exclaimed "A waitress?!". I asked her if there was something bigger she wanted to do and knowing she loved horses I suggested "what about being a veterinarian?". she told me how cool it would be and she liked that idea more but she didn't think she could achieve more. I told her if she didn't make it to be a vet do anything that made her happy but try to become as much as you can doing it.
"Reach for the stars, but don't be afraid to fly in the clouds"
I hope she does become an animator.
- by Bret, 07-26-2009, 8:45 AM
| | 5. | You go, Girl!!!
Hank
- by Hank Wilfong, 07-26-2009, 1:52 AM
| | 6. | To paraphrase Skip Gates, the senator, the examiner and the police officer "did not know who they was messing with!"
- by Beverlee Bruce, 07-25-2009, 11:29 PM
| | 7. | Well, Dr. Examiner can join Senator Jefferson Beauregard Session, III the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee and Sgt.Crowley of the Cambridge Police Department. As most of you must know the good senator grilled Judge Sonia Sotomayor as President Barack Obama's nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court and Sgt. Crowley is the Cambridge police officer who arrested Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. in his own home. Note how the media have used President Obama's remarkes on the matter to divert attention from the pressing issue of Health Care Reform! In any case, these three incidents demonstrate the fact that we do not live in a post-racial American Society, if we ever will. Not the senator, examiner nor the police office could believe Sotomajor's exemplary judicial record, Brandi's high test scores and her ambition to become an animator or the professor's residency in an upscale Cambridge home within walking distance of the esteemed Harvard university. But thank God for the Shirlee Smiths, the Henry Louis Gates Jr.s and the Judge Sotomajor's who are in the first-rank of those people of color who have achieved prominence through hard work and persistence and will face down any racist who confronts them on the basis of the rightness of their cause from the platforms they have earned the right to mount and to tell it like it is when circumstances require them to do so. Keep up the good work, sis!!!!
- by Beverlee Bruce, 00-00-0000, 12:00 AM
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