All In

By now, you likely have a better idea of the activities that I like to do for fun.  You can probably guess things that might entertain or thrill me.  I told you before that I’m childish, and I meant that.  I often find myself very easily amused.  I laugh a lot because I find so many things to be hilarious.

That may explain why I have found so much newfound joy in my job.  Kids are hilarious.  And working with kids makes me utter phrases that sound ridiculous in AND out of context.  “We don’t pee on our friends.”  “Pick it up…it’s right there…it’s RIGHT there…IT’S RIGHT THERE!”  “My name is not therapy.  I’m Ms. Sareta.”  “Am I taking you?  I don’t even know you.”

There is a joy and a struggle that comes with my profession.  I often overlook the joy because the reality is that there is much struggle.  I work with children who are tiny and already at a disadvantage.  Not just because of their speech or language impairments but because of the lack of parental involvement.  So, when I think about the responsibility that I have, it puts a weight on my shoulders that’s uncomfortable.

In my previous work environment, the parents were ALL IN.  They often cried when I told them that their child had a speech or language impairment.  They didn’t want to accept that their child was delayed.  Even though they didn’t like hearing the news, they would most often instantly become people of action.  They were involved and wanted a plan to remediate the issue.

Unfortunately, parents everywhere don’t have the same drive.  Imagine my surprise when I was testing a child, and the parent used a very specific term to describe what they believed was happening to their child.  Not because it was a true concern, but because they wanted to profit from a disability check.  They were willing to put labels on their child to “get ahead.”

Daily, I have to think about the joy that I get from engaging with the bright young minds of tomorrow.  My therapy skills are not on 1000% all of the time.  I’m human.  I get tired, and I know the kids get tired of me.  But I love my kids.  They are so perceptive.  And wise.  And expressive (even when they’re non-verbal).  They’re dramatic.  Wiggly.  Giggly.  Kind.  Mean.  I just had an epiphany.  I love my kids so much because they’re all so much like me!

Bless their little hearts and bless mine too. They have to work to achieve skills that just come naturally to others. Some people are naturally extroverted. I’m not. So I’m learning to give myself the same grace that I give my babies. I’m all in on spreading the love and joy of Jesus. #wepreach