Naive

Yes I am naive- when a patient comes in with symptoms, then they have something wrong with them; seems logical enough for me. But what if they are faking, and what if on top of that, they don't even know they are faking? double yikes! A much more complicated situation than my mind is ready for. I'm also very shocked and sheltered. I saw a woman today with numerous children, a husband she regretted and an 8th grade education- she was almost 40! In America?!?! How can this be- education is virtually free (well at least through 12th grade, after that it costs more than a middle class persons home.) Just baffles my mind! Not everyone is meant to be a doctor or an astrophysicists, but some level of education is important just to be a productive, contributing citizen or at least people able to participate in society(and this in no way is a slight at the MR and special needs populations.) How will she be able to prepare her own children for the world when she cannot hold a job that requires one to do complex calculations or construct a well written paragraph? Today I was shocked and I believe this will be a year of uncovering how little I know about people and the world in which I live.
Also, something wonderful is happening....perhaps...