I’ll be changing my “About Me” page in about 4 weeks.
I’ll no longer be a foster care social worker.
*moment of silence, please*
I’m actually leaving direct care altogether, for a time. Not permanently, I don’t think, but who knows where life will lead? I need a break, I’ve been very burnt out. The first time I stated that I didn’t care about what happened with a situation with a kid, I knew it was time to go. The truth is that I did care, I do care. But I am at the point where not caring has seemed like a really great option, and I cannot do that to my kids. I won’t do it to my kids.
I’m leaving a job where I work about 45 hours a week, and come home at all kinds of crazy hours. (9:30 tonight). I will be going to a job where I work 8:30 to 5. Every day. With a lunch break. With a gym onsite. Yes, I will be working on what us in the mental health field think of as the dark side- an insurance company. But I’ve been promised I’ll still use my clinical skills, and I think I will. I also think that I will learn and grow in other ways.
At the very least I will get a much needed break from some of the total BS I’ve been dealing with for two years.
My co-workers and bosses know that I have been unhappy, and that I have been wanting a change. My clients know nothing of the sort and I dread telling them. I’m sure they’ll all be fine, but I have built of very strong relationships with some of my families and kids, relationships that we’ve worked very hard at in the last two years. I will miss some of them very, very much.
But it’s time for me to move on. At the very least take a break.
I’m very, very excited.
3 comments
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November 14, 2007 at 11:04 am
Kenny
Yay! And Congratulations!
I’m happy for you because people with the need to do things with a passion should never have that taken away from them, because its important to the fundamental makeup of the position. Probably even more so in your all-important work.
Also don’t fall into the trick of feeling bad about your change. For all of the things that you might want to improve, and the situations you’d like to fix to prevent the burn out of yourself and others, you’ve made direct, miraculous impacts on scores of people’s lives and we should all be thanking you for that!
November 14, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Annie
I’m so happy for you. I think this is going to be such a good move for you - you need to take care of you, first and foremost.
And whatever Kenny said above me. Those are pretty much my thoughts too.
(((HUG!)))
November 14, 2007 at 1:09 pm
merseydotes
Wow! It sounds like this is the best move for you right now. Good for you for making the change.
My sister got out of being the director of a child care center a few years ago. She loved it, but it wore her down mentally and emotionally - long hours, difficult parents, difficult kids, state standards, etc. It was her passion but she just couldn’t do it anymore. She’s so much happier and healthier now.