Working
This week, as part of my job, I visited a family where I was abused solidly for about twenty-five minutes while trying to have a civilised discussion with the parents. In the end, myself and the other worker left because we weren’t getting anywhere, and in the car on the way back to the office, I wondered, ‘Why am I in this job?’
This week, as part of my job, I held a two-week-old baby who had been born withdrawing from methadone. As he squirmed inside his tight cloth cucoon and stared at me with huge eyes which never quite focused on me, I wondered, ‘This is why I’m in this job’.
...and, before you think working in an all-female office has made me clucky, I’m soon to be making films (for Carols 06), playing live music (for Carols 06), and, hopefully, writing some more (not for Carols 06).
That’s all for now.
“A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How, then, can anyone understand their own way?” (Proverbs 20:24)
Jane said,
Oct 7, 15:19 #
Funnily enough, the abuse is what keeps me going, striving to change the world one smartmouth at a time…
NeilA said,
Oct 7, 15:53 #
That strikes me as a strangely bad taste comment… :(
Jane said,
Oct 7, 17:29 #
Badly phrased maybe, but I don’t really think it’s in poor taste.
Jane said,
Oct 7, 18:11 #
I’ll rephrase my comment completely to help any misunderstanding:
Strange, abusive guardians/caretakers is what keeps me going in social work situations with poor prognosis. It makes me want to help protect the weak.
Ben said,
Oct 8, 06:39 #
Jane,
I have met people who thrive on our aggressive clientele. I wouldn’t say it’s what keeps them going in the job, because it’s enough to drive anyone mental after a while, but they certainly seem to enjoy the sparring and the tactics you can use to try and work through the aggression. Personally, working with aggros all the time is not my cup of tea, and I think if you want a reason to be doing a job like social work (especially with crisis stuff), then I think it’s not a particularly healthy reason to stay in the job. But, wanting to protect the weak is a fantastic reason to do social work.