A woman I know carried her son in her arms cradled like a baby until he was about four years old. He was a lanky towheaded little thing, his spidery legs draped over her arm. In my opinion he looked uncomfortable but resigned. Not being a doctor I can’t say for a certainty he was stunted however it wasn’t until late in his fourth year he begun to really speak as a four year old child should instead if babbling baby talk. I believe holding him back from bolstering himself as she did perpetuated any inborn problems he had rather than fixing any.

Last night I helped a friend of mine work up a presentation in American Sign Language I was to be her assistant during the presentation, as it is a scenario we were demonstrating. It was her responsibility to give the presentation. While I love being of help, I naturally tend to take charge of situations when put before me and by the end of the translating it felt more mine than hers. She thanked me for my assistance profusely both yesterday and tonight when we finally gave the demo. I know she used the correct syntax because I helped her conform it, but I can’t shake the niggling doubt that my help was truly helpful. Perhaps the better lesson would have been to let her use vernacular English instead of abbreviate it for her, but of course pressed for time as I was it was easier to do it myself. As it stood we spent three hours on the thing *niggle, niggle*. I know it could have been more simplistic.

I had a friend ask me for a job interview with my employer a few weeks back. He liked what he saw in her, and coupled with his trust in my judgement issued her an offer of employment contingent upon her successful licensing in property and casualty insurance in the state of Wisconsin. She took the pre-licensing class work last week and yesterday she took the state exams. She failed. I told her it was ok, it’s just a test, she can try again and will pass the next time. The problem is while I’m telling her I believe in her abilities the niggle comes back. I don’t have great faith she will pass the exam the second time around, perhaps she isn’t supposed to.

I get paid salary and commission. It seems she would like the same levels of benefits which I have. We needed a licensed office secretary, but instead she would like to be a sales person. And while I’m telling her she can work out arrangements with my boss to include commission*niggle, niggle*. I don’t think she has the drive to be a sales person, you can’t sell insurance if you don’t HAVE your licenses. Right now the point is moot.

I go into work tomorrow to train a girl who has plenty of potential but there’s still the matter of the niggle. The niggle is seldom wrong. Perhaps instead of encouraging her to pass I should really sit back and let her ruminate whether this is where she wants to be. She’s young, and I don’t want her stunted.