The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #75873   Message #1340223
Posted By: hesperis
26-Nov-04 - 10:13 PM
Thread Name: BS: Newlywed Advice?
Subject: RE: BS: Newlywed Advice?
Ok, even if we solved the physical room problem temporarily (which would be good for maybe a max of 2 months, but not for 6-12 months which is more what would be needed in this situation), there's still the problem of emotional support.

They pressure him to get a full-time job. He's incapable of that because of the way his brain functions. He gets fired from full-time jobs. He has absolutely no clue what his strengths are, although we are beginning to get a glimmer that he does have some.

They completely ignore my strengths even when we tell them about it and ask for their support. They ignore my need for a quiet working/study environment and concentrate all efforts on persuading him to get a full-time job.

Then they say that we just need to let them know what we need. We have done so already. They merely reiterate that he needs to get a full-time job as soon as possible, and then ask us to let them know what we need to get through this situation.

TRANSLATION: We'll be happy to support you in following your strategies as long as those strategies are what normal people do, and as long as they are what WE think is best for you. We're not going to consult with you about your needs, your actual inabilities as evidenced by previous job behaviour, or listen to what you say about the situation. Because we already know what's best for you, so just settle down and be nice normal working people with no problems. You can't do that? We can't hear you dear, when did you say you were going to get a job?

Steve does NOT do well under that kind of pressure. It only gives his brain more things to be distracted about, and he feels like a failure before even starting to do anything.