Do you ever

Do you ever wonder what people are thinking?  Not just gee I wonder what he's thinking.  More like,  What in blazes are they thinking when they do this?  I do quite often.  The latest target of my what in blazes statement are my roommates.  They have a family member who gets housing and other services from a local agency for the mentally ill.  I get services from their clinic due to my own issues with depression but I have never received any type of housing or other services  from this agency.  I have received mixed reviews from people who do get services from there.  My roommates are very cash poor but reasonably educated people who seem to lack some social skills.  The family member has a severe mental illness and has been institutionalized in the past but functions with supports fairly well. (some say better than my roommates)

I need to describe them a bit so you get the idea.  These are people who have both had at least 2 years of college.  They are mother and son. She has a 4 year education degree.  He has a two year human services degree.  It seems to be social work basics. They have their own bond and I honestly get along with the son better.  It is clear that in this family mom is in charge.  My roommate the son gets upset easily and will often need to be left alone. He will often pout.  He is older than me I am 44 this year.  He is not the one with the mental illness.  The son with the mental illness was diagnosed with a severe mental illness as a teenager.  This was not common for the time.  He had to be institutionalized for most of his teenage years and some of his young adult years.  They don't say much about his symptoms but I got the fact that it was very scary for everyone.  My roommates have lived here almost a year and I do a WTF almost daily. (Those of you who know me will know what I mean)  Here's why.  He has a two year degree in human services and because he has little money, he and his mom often go to the community for help and low cost programs.  He gets mad when those programs get cut.  Yet they do not believe in big government.  WTF?  Where do they think the money comes from?  The latest WTF is that they wanted to get the son that gets services from an agency a flu shot.  The agency was hesitating on helping schedule such things.  The agency became bad at their jobs and a bad place to get services.  This coming from someone with a human services background.  Here is why I do a WTF. 

1. No one ever talked to the son getting services to see if he wanted a flu shot.
2. No one ever talked to the agency to see if they were giving flu shots.
3. No one ever talked to the agency to see what the problem was.

Now feelings are hurt. People are angry.  All they need to do is ask why.  It's just a little word but it means a lot. 

I have two degrees a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and  a Master's degree in adult education.  I do not have a social work degree.  I can still see that something else is going on here.  I went to choir practice to clear my head and when I came home I told them that I was an outsider looking in but I think that my roommates need to answer these questions before they get all upset.  It could also be that the staff at the agency would like to see this person speak up for himself more often so that he can begin to express his own wants and needs.  He has been out of the institution for decades now.  These are important skills.  If the agency wants him to do it himself, they will not jump just because the family wants it.  I'd like to think I am a good advocate both for myself and for others if needed.  I know it can be hard sometimes.  We all want to jump in and fix the issue or problem.  Sometimes it's just about giving someone the tools to do it themselves.  Please ask and work for what you want you will never get it otherwise.  Take Care