Time for another installment of this Wednesday/Sunday night series!
Picking up from last time –
We had a very normal conversation, if you can believe it!
She asked me normal various lifestyle questions that health practitioners often ask – do I drink or use drugs… She asked me a bit about habits and people in my life.
Again, I’d learned to just say as little as possible.
As I’d gotten ready in the morning, I prepped for the day thinking, “Imagine you’re on a witness stand. Don’t offer extraneous information. Only answer what is specifically asked. This is not a friendly conversation. This is a cross-examination.”
(That was basically the advice given by my brilliant father. He said imagine I was in a deposition. But I don’t see as many of those on TV. So, I’m going with something I “know” – or at least know the TV version of.)
I did let my guard down a bit, as I did feel pretty comfortable with the social worker. But I didn’t get crazy.
When she asked if I did volunteer work, I did not mention I was in the midst of 52 volunteer activities in 52 weeks. Even though I think goals are something of which to be proud, I was shown last time that they make you look too obsessive or too whatever. So, I just kept it quiet and said I volunteer a few times a month, citing one example from the previous week.
Even still, she knew who I was! She asked me at some point, “You’re a bit of an overachiever, aren’t you?” Even when I tone my personality down like crazy, and I try not to give too many details about things, I guess you can tell. I am who am I am.
And I love being thought of as an overachiever – whether or not the psychologist in Ohio likes that. (Still talking about her? Bitter much, Aurora?)
So, the social worker here found me out. But she didn’t seem to count it against me. [*Wipes forehead*] Phew.
I thought I was going to make it through scot-free! …But even trying to be as succinct as possible, sometimes I was asked to expand on things if I gave an unusual answer.
The only questions that seemed to trip up my interview were the ones about kids and family.
She asked if I wanted to have kids. I said no. She followed up on that a bit – if I had any desire at all for kids in the deep future. I let her know I’d had a procedure, so now I’m physically incapable of having children. That’s how sure I am.
She seemed taken aback by that. (Did I let some extraneous information slip?! It was related! I just wanted to show I was sure without having to try to say the words “I’m sure” in a different way. [*Sigh.*])
She asked how long I’d known I didn’t want to have kids. I’ve known for as long as I can remember. Having kids has just never been something I wanted.
And this is where I’ll pick up next time.