Ask Amy: Co-worker might not deserve closure
Amy, there is a laundry list of reasons why we don't want or have kids, but it would be offensive and irrelevant in my position to share. It's also none of my client's business.
Recently, a family shared with me that one of their doctors was childless and so they felt like she wasn't as good of a doctor to their child.
Now I want to hide that fact about myself because perhaps families will think I'm not as good of a counselor to their child.
Is there a nice, easy phrase at work I can use when families ask me if and why I don't have kids?
-- E
Dear E: The families you are working with are vulnerable and sharing deeply personal information with you. Perhaps this is why they are leaping over boundaries while they are with you.
A polite, crisp and professional answer from you might be: "We're not here to talk about me. We're here to talk about you. Let's get started and focus on your case, OK?"
Dear Amy: "Dismissed and Invisible" stated that she is routinely interrupted during conversation.
I wonder if Dismissed is one of those people who rambles on and on, where people can't get a word in edgewise without interrupting?
I wish you had suggested this.
-- Conversationalist
Dear Conversationalist: Rambling is a definite possibility. I agree that "Dismissed" should review her own speech patterns.
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(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)
