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?