Never let anyone put a hand on you

The "Slap"

When I was a young child I had a speech therapist come to the house to help me with my speech. She was a friend of a friend. I was maybe 7 years old.

Now you may think, wow, you had a speech therapist come to you house? Yes. This was the 60's. Doctors used to make house calls as well. There was no Craniofacial team of doctors and specialists back then.

So, anyway, I was in the breakfast room with the speech therapist. I was practicing my pronunciation. I had exercises to do and I was saying the words out loud. Well, evidently I did not say the words correctly. The therapist slapped me hard across my face. She slapped me!

My Mom came rushing into the breakfast room to see what the commotion was. I told my Mom that she slapped me across the face. The therapist did not deny it. She actually told my Mom that I was not saying the words correctly.

I remember this part very clearly. My sweet, soft spoken Mom who would never hurt a fly said in a very strong and loud voice, "Don't you ever lay a hand on my daughter. Ever. Get out of the house and never come back".

Well that was that. No more speech therapist. My Mom would be my speech therapist.

That experience helped shape my life. My Mom stood up for me and took
on the role of helping me speak better. Pronunciate my words.  We practiced words like thirst, first, shirt, sugar, etc.

Nowadays, this person would have been arrested and charged with battery. But not back then.

Recently, when I told the speech therapist at the UIC, she could not believe it. But, you have to remember that was in the 60s and things were very different. Very different.

For me, I would not change a thing. The "Slap" was an experience that I share because it says a lot without saying a lot.

Never let anyone lay a finger on you. Speak up for yourself. Know that you are not perfect -no one is. And, make sure you surround yourself with people that lift you up. People that are positive and forward thinking. People that embrace and give a good hug! No slaps, just smiles!