Work: speak up or push through

Some people at work know what I'm dealing with. They know I have back & joint pain. A few know I have spinal arthritis and fibromyalgia but only a few people. I've never been one to ask for a lighter load or work accommodations, I just push through or lean on my team during bad days. As a sped teacher I've always had 2 aides who help me, picking up the slack when I'm hurting a lot.

Now I'm a private ABA therapist. I'm working twice as hard for half as much, until I'm board certified. I have kids for 2-5 hrs at a time for intensive autism therapy. I've always been able to do it but now I have two 3 year olds that are killing me! I see them on the same day. I start with a 3 year old, then work with a 6 yr old, and end the day with another 3 year old. They're nonverbal and just starting therapy so there's a lot of behaviors that we're working through. I'm EXHAUSTED, to say the least, and I hurt and I can't keep up. I don't want to be perceived as lazy or unenthusiastic about working with them but I'm doing all I can do. My mind says I can do it but my body gives me a painful reminder that I can't.

What do I do? Speak up and ask for these kids to be removed from my caseload, even after I begged for my caseload to be filled? Or push through and hope for the best, things will let up once my kids get more accustomed to therapy and get some language skills going?

I sure sympathize with you. It's a tough decision and truly the only one who can answer it is you. You know your body better than anyone, and you know how hard you can push it before it starts fighting back big time.

How long do you feel it will take before the 3 year olds are settled down? Do you see them every day? If not is it possible to juggle your schedule so they aren't both on the same day? Just throwing stuff out there. :)

Hoping the right solution comes about for you..

If I had it to do again I would never tell anyone at work. My mental and physical health were used against me, and I lost my job after 10 years 2 months shy of getting my 2nd Masters.

That really sucks!!! I'm sorry that happened to you!! I was told to leave my issues at the door. As time went on and I could no longer give as many hours or work as hard and my mental status was waivering, my ex
Boss tells me how much I'm missed because they have had to hire 2 people to do the job I did by myself (even at my worst). I haven't worked since 2006 and if I could go back, I would but each day brings a different set of issues so I never know what hours I'll be functional (or how many).