Sometimes your determination to have a middle-of-the-day visit, forces me to drive 50 extra miles because my other scheduled visits were all on the other side of the county.
…but I agree because my Social Worker heart cares about you and I genuinely want to visit with you.
Sometimes the 50 extra miles I drove to back track and meet at your requested time, makes me late picking up my kiddo at the end of the day.
…but I will do it because my Social Worker heart cares about you and your situation may be a little more dire than my own.
Sometimes I frustrate you because I won’t call a resource for you or complete a form for you.
…but I do it because my Social Worker heart wants to empower you to tap community resources on your own.
Sometimes when I’m sitting in your living room, holding your hand while you share of your anticipatory grief, I’m trying not to squirm because I haven’t peed in hours.
…but I endure because my Social Worker heart cares about you.
Sometimes while driving to your house, I skip running through the drive-thru for lunch because it might take too long and I don’t want to be late.
…but I do it because my Social Worker heart cares about you.
Sometimes when I listen to your grief story it makes me sad about my own grief story.
…but I do it because my Social Worker heart cares about you.
Sometimes I cry when I leave your home because my heart breaks for your grief or because I know, before you do, the gravity of the loss you are about to experience.
…but I do it because my Social Worker heart cares about you.
Sometimes when I say hard things to you, I wish someone other than me could have said it, would have said it or that you would have just made better choices on your own.
…but I would say them all over, again and again, if it would help you because my Social Worker heart cares for you deeply.
Sometimes, on the night before my visit to your home, I had to stay up all night with a sick child and I’m utterly exhausted and worried you will take my yawns for boredom or disinterest.
…but I come on into work because my Social Worker heart cares about you and am neither bored nor disinterested. Just tired.
Sometimes I am actually disinterested in what you are saying because I just received a text from a family member that said “call me as soon as you can” and it created worry in me for my family’s well-being.
…my Social Worker heart cares about you deeply but it also cares fiercely about my own family.
Sometimes I’m grumpy because I didn’t get to drink enough coffee before I left home or my husband and I were on the outs with each other, but I force myself to be pleasant with you and caring because my grumpiness was not caused by you.
…I protect you from my personal grumpiness because my Social Worker heart knows you did nothing to deserve that.
Sometimes when you’re grumpy with me for no known reason, I bite my tongue so as to not respond with grump because I know I didn’t cause your grumpiness either; most likely your circumstances did.
…I bite my tongue to maintain a working relationship with you because my Social Worker heart knows you won’t be grumpy by the time I leave your home…if I did my job correctly.
Sometimes I arrive at your home immediately after hanging up the phone from a disgruntled caregiver who just cussed at me mercilessly for something that had nothing to do with me, or maybe that did have something to do with me, but I figure out a way to provide you with smiles and concern while I’m with you, as if nothing happened.
…but I do it because my Social Worker heart cares about you.
Yes, your request seemed small. No, I haven’t gotten around to doing it yet because there were a million other small requests on my to-do list before yours and sometimes I don’t have enough hours in my day. Yes, I feel guilty. Please know I’m working as fast as I can.
…I often come in early or work late because I genuinely want to help you because my Social Worker heart cares about you.
Yes, I sometimes run behind schedule because a family needed me a little longer. Please be forgiving, as you might be that family one day and I will give you the time you need as well.
…I will stay as long as you need me because my Social Worker heart cares too deeply sometimes.
I have cried with families. I have cried for families.
…I do it because my Social Worker heart cares deeply and hurts for and with you.
While I was strong for you as your loving spouse of 60+ years took his last breath, and just days before, while I taught you how to support him and comfort him at end of life; I still grieved over the loss of my precious mother.
…but I did it because my Social Worker heart cares about you.
I’ve allowed silent tears to stream down my face as I hugged you in your loss while I continued to grieve from loss of my own.
…I keep doing this because my Social Worker heart cares deeply and won’t let me stop.
I sometimes have exciting plans for a beach trip with friends coming up and I’d like to share it with you because we have become accustomed to sharing small trivial personal things with each other, but I hold back because I know you won’t be able to take anymore trips like that and I don’t want you to feel left out or sad.
…I do that because my Social Worker heart cares about you deeply but also needs to rejuvenate so that I can keep on helping you and countless others like you.
Sipping coffee today, thankful for this Social Worker heart of mine and the countless families who have blessed me more than they will ever know; far more than I could ever return to them. ~paula
Coffee With Paula 