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(aka Bike) Part 577 by Angharad |
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“What did you do that for?” asked the astonished Simon.
“Why did you pinch my bum?”
He shook the leg of his jeans and more of the cornflakes appeared. Both of the girls were silent in astonishment.
He shook all of the dry cornflakes out of his jeans and left the room. I poured another lot of flakes into Mima’s dish and this time put milk on them, then I gave her them.
“Why did you tip cornflakes into Daddy’s trousers?” asked Trish.
“Because he annoyed me.”
“It was very funny.”
“Don’t let him hear you laugh, I don’t think he thought it so.” I got the brush and swept up the mess and binned it.
Simon came down and ate his breakfast without saying anything to me. He talked to the girls, but not to me. I wondered about apologising, but then decided, if I did apologise, it would be privately.
I called Dr Rose’s secretary to ask if she knew the name of the paediatric psychiatrist Trish was seeing. It was a Dr Edwards. I thanked her and said I would call him. She corrected me, by saying, ‘him was a her’. She put me through to Dr Edwards’ secretary.
“Hello, my name is Cathy Watts.”
“How can I help you?”
“I’m fostering one of your patients, Tricia Watts.”
“Hold on,” she went to check something. “We have a Patrick Watts–oh, hang on, he’s GID and likes to be called Patricia, that one?”
“Yes, she likes to be called Patricia.”
“Quite, how can I help?”
“I’ve arranged for her to start school after Easter.”
“You’ve arranged for him to start school as a girl?”
“Please, I’ve arranged for her to start school, she sees herself as female, I’m respecting that decision. I thought, however, that Dr Edwards should be informed.”
“I see, she’s with a patient at the moment. Can she ring you back when she’s free?”
“Of course. I’ll be here for another hour or so.” I gave her my number and went off to get myself washed and dressed. I took Trish with me.
In half an hour we were presentable. I’d put her hair into bunches with blue ribbons to match her dress. She looked as pretty as a picture. The phone rang and I jumped, as it startled me out of my reverie, then I went to answer it.
“Ms Watts?” asked an educated female voice.
“Speaking,” I replied, guessing who the caller was.
“This is Dr Edwards, calling re your phone call about Patrick.”
“Patricia, yes.”
“Oh yes, he prefers to call himself that, doesn’t he?”
I wandered in to the kitchen and shut the door. “How much contact have you had with the child?”
“I’ve spoken with him a couple of times. Quite a bright child if I remember correctly.”
“Well, Trish has lived with me for a couple of months. There is nothing boyish about her at all, so I’d be grateful if you could accord her that courtesy and describe her in female terms.”
“So you feel she is genuinely gender identity disordered?”
“Very much so.”
“And you are an expert?”
“I have some experience of the condition.”
“I see, in what capacity?”
“I’m not sure if that’s any of your business.”
“I have the power to have her taken off you.”
“If you try, I’ll cross petition for contempt of court.”
“I beg your pardon.”
“Trish was placed in my custody at the behest of a high court judge.”
“He…”
“She,” I corrected.
“Very well, she, is resident in a children’s home.”
“She isn’t. She lives with me and my other daughter.”
“So you’re fostering her?”
“Yes, and I have enrolled her at a girls’ school. They know about her and have dealt with the issue before. She is very excited about going there.”
“I see. How did you come to foster her?”
“Through Dr Rose, whom I believe you know.”
“Yes, I asked Dr Rose to see if he could find anything organic for her insistence that she was a girl. He couldn’t as I remember.”
“He was looking in her body, not her spirit.”
“I’m afraid we tend not to deal with metaphysical aspects. We’re physicians, not priests or philosophers.”
“Oh I don’t know. Sam Rose seemed quite a philosopher to me.”
“So you know him?”
“We have met several times. He actually appeared in court for us.”
“Did he, indeed, well if Dr Rose thinks you’re suitable, then you must be suitable. I’m not at all sure about indulging the child’s fantasies as much as you are.”
“They aren’t fantasies or delusions. She really is more girl than boy. I see her every day, there isn’t an ounce of boy in her.”
“She was very effeminate, as I recall.”
“She might have been as a boy. As a girl, she is a delight and quite feminine.”
“I suppose I ought to see her again. It’s been some time.”
“Please feel free to speak with Dr Rose.”
“Oh I shall. I’ll pass you back to my secretary. Please make an appointment to come and see me before she attends school.”
“That was why I called, to keep you apprised of what she was doing.”
“Yes, thank you for that. I’m sorry to sound a bit sceptical, but true GID is very rare, especially manifesting this young.”
“Perhaps you should judge the case on it’s merits, not on statistics, which can be most misleading and subject to manipulation.”
“You have some experience of manipulating statistics?”
“I’m a scientist. We use them all the time; but they don’t invalidate the individual study, which brings a different point of view to bear.”
“Quite. Well, I look forward to meeting you, Ms Watts.” She passed me through to her secretary and I made an appointment for the following week. I also left a message with Dr Rose to call me back.
He did an hour later. “Hi, Lady C, how are my two girls and their lovely foster mother?”
“We are all well thank you. I’ve recently spoken to Dr Edwards.”
“Fliss Edwards, yes, and …”
“I’ve enrolled Trish in a girls’ school and she starts after Easter, so I thought I’d better tell Dr Edwards.”
“Ah, okay.”
“Did I do the wrong thing?”
“No, of course not, but she seems to think GID kids are rarer than hen’s teeth.”
“She seemed to have difficulty with the concept during our conversation.”
“Um, not completely surprised. Did you tell her you’re a post op?”
“No, I want to meet her and allow her form her own opinion.”
“Well unless she does a DNA analysis of you, she’ll never guess.”
“Thank you, Sam, you’ve made my day.”
“You’re welcome. I take it you don’t want me to spill the beans?”
“Um, yes, is that okay?”
“Yeah, no probs; the fact that you mobilised Jemima are grounds enough for the referral. That you managed it again should make you close to beating Mother Theresa in being beatified or whatever they do with would-be saints.”
“I’m no saint, by a long way. Are you happy with the schooling set up?”
“Where is she going?”
“The convent school, it was the only one I could get her into.”
“You’re paying for her education?”
“Yes, I don’t have much choice.”
“I see. I think you’re wonderful, young lady, I really do. Can you pop her in to see me this afternoon, say after four?”
“If you want me to, of course I will.”
“I shall see you then, Lady C.” He rang off and I felt a warm feeling perfuse my body. He was a lovely man and just being in his presence was a delight. I also knew he was a powerful ally and a useful one to have to deal with Dr Fliss.
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Comments
kewl!
At long last, i get to read a new chapter before bed!
Maddy Bell
Madeline Anafrid Bell
Well Good
Dry corn flakes. Much better than wet ones or hot cereal.
*sighs* Dr Fliss...
She's probalby got a chip on her shoulder - if that's her REAL first name. And, is she really a gender specialist? Well, that meeting may well be very interesting.
Cathy REALLY needs to appologize to Simon, that was way over the top, and a poor example for the children... *sighs* But, then I said that last time.
Thanks for another interesting episode.
Annette
shrinks
they def are a breed unto themselves.
when i 1st started my transition, i had to goto 12 to find ONE that knew what the harry benj. standards of care was, let alone it was in the DMSV. That person was totally convinced i should just PRAY about it and be happy I was a male. It took me 4 more tries to find one compentent enough to least talk sanely about my problem, Luckily when I got to the point of needing my 2nd opinion, she knew of a person, so i didnt have to wade thru that mess all over again.
Here tho is a personal opinion ---- Even if you went to college and got your degree, doesnt mean you actually know anything.
the person that barely passed is given the same exact certificate as the person the ACE'd everything ......... rofL
Agreed
Monkey See. Monkey Do.
It Seems Dr. Edwards Needs To Learn A Few Lessons
It seems that Dr. Edwards needs to learn a few things that she obviously hasn't yet. I think that if she refuses to treat Trish with respect, then Cathy should look into finding someone else who will. Some of these people have absolutely no clue about what kids like Trish go through. I think Cathy is about ready to go ballistic on her at the appointment if she doesn't straighten up.
We had that problem with…
…one of the trick-cyclists initially. I say initially because we soon sought out another psychiatrist who was readier to listen to what our child had to say. The first one was very like Dr Edwards in that she was firmly of the opinion that our child's insistence that she was female was a pure figment of her imagination and that we should wait until she was into her teens before any meaningful diagnosis could be made. Luckily the subsequent psychiatrist was of a similar opinion to myself and my husband. This was when T was 6-7 years old. Two years later my man's work took us to live in The Netherlands; T transitioned just before we moved.
I know that other parents have come up against "shrink trouble" so this is a very interesting chapter. Well done, Ang.
Hugs,
Hilary.
P.S. So it was cornflakes that Cathy tipped down Simon's breeks: I am tempted to make some remark about "Crunchy Nuts"! LOL
Sounds to me that Dr. Fliss
Sounds to me that Dr. Fliss and her receptionist don't believe children of Trish's age can be GID. I hope Cathy and others can put them in their place. J-Lynn
Allies
It looks like Trish is in capable hands. Great!
Very uncomfortable
With Simon leaving without any discussion. Not at all a good situation. Cathy went a little too far and could have gone out of her way to say she was sorry even if she feels injured by Simon's pinch. Both need to apologise but it has to start somewhere.
Great, yet another difficult doctor. Just what Cathy needs to increase the stress.
Rose Knows
That that shrink is not good for Trish. Wait till Cathy trounces her for being stupid.
May Your Light Forever Shine
May Your Light Forever Shine
Cathy
Angharad; This story just gets better all the time, But I agree with all the above she needs to apologize to Simon. She will have a stressful appointment with Dr. Edwards. Well, Just have to wait for that next chapter or more to see what happens. Richard
Richard
Medical Statistics.
Yes! Yes!! Yes!!!
I loved the way you shot the psychiatrist down about her interpretation of statistics or more perversely her misue of Statistics to support her flawed arguments.
Doctors are not ststicians! Indeed, doctors often choose to do medicine because they are not academically capable of handling the higer realms of mathematics.
Statistics is one of the most complex and difficult branches of maths and consequently it is the most misused or abused.
It is amazing how many high ranking doctors try and misuse statistics to support their arguments.
The most obscene example being Professor Roy Meadows abuse of statistics to reinforce his arguments about the likelyhood of a genuine cot death being deemed as a murder. (One, two three, etc!!!)
His reasoning and statistical basis were utterly and completely wrong but a gullible ignorant judge and a raft of innumerate lawyers fell totally for his downright deceptions and ruled against the mothers in the famous munchehausen cases.
One stastician could have readily and immediately destroyed Meadows' arguments and made the whole edifice of law and medicine look utterly incompetant. (IN the end they did and the courts were forced to becktrack and acknowledge at the highest appeal levels, their utter statistical incompetance!!!)
Judges, doctiors and social workers can be so ignorant when it comes to mathematical probabilities and statistical analysis.
Good on you Anghard! You shot that innumerate, psychiatric ignoramous down in flames!!
Well done!
Beverly Taff. B.Sc., M.Sc., Master Mariner, Transvestite!
(I hold my 'Masters Ticket, higher than my master's degree and my transvestism higher still)
Let it out, say what's really on your mind.
Dry corn flakes are the best, unlike shredded mini wheats who stay together, Corn flakes break, and have sharp edges
Questional opinions for a person dealing with disturbed children. Seems to have a rather misguided, Hardcore Christian, preconceived, attitude on the subject. And that misconception appears to be known in medical circles.
Bigotry I can accept, but hiding behind phoney science, those bigots,' I wouldn't piss on if they were on fire in the courtyard ! '
Cefin
Just one question
Who is Dr. Fliss? Normally, I can find any kind of UK reference with Google, but that one is completely eluding me.