b*tch and moan time.

I don’t mean to be a whiny person, but honestly, I don’t know how case workers do it. I’ve been a pseudo case worker (I’m not certified) for 4 days now and I’m exhausted—mentally, emotionally, physically exhausted. And it’s kinda embaressing. I mean if I’M emotionally drained, just think of how much more exhausted the woman all these things are happening to must feel. My exhaustion comes from being her support system, her shoulder to cry on, her friend to go to Child Protective Services with—I’m merely on the sidelines of her life, cheering her on and telling her that she has the strength to keep fighting for her children, that she doesn’t deserve to be treated the way she has been in the past and I’M exhausted. It’s humiliating to admit, but if this is how I feel with just one woman, how in the world can I handle more than one at a time? It’s a 24-hour job, especially when you’re living with the women you’re giving safe refuge to…and I, well, I’ve never been a 24/7 type of person before.

It’s funny how we get sucked into the situation. I find myself constantly having to “zoom out” and look at the big picture. But oh, what a beautiful big picture it is. I believe every person deserves to be treated with respect and dignity—and working with an abused women’s shelter, that’s exactly what I’m trying to do for these women. After all, what’s a little bit of exhaustion in comparison to helping change someone’s life? Yea, I think it’s a fair trade too.