threeplusfire | (no subject)

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I think I have been at work too much when I find myself looking at a man and child coming out of a store and wondering if he's the stepfather and if he's abusing her and a million other grim sorts of things. It just doesn't occur to me that they are ordinary people not involved in some twisted dynamic. Maybe it was the large number of sexual abuse calls my trainees took today, or the girl who had four child deaths in one week. Or the four year old who got ahold of Daddy's gun and shot his two year old sister in the mouth. Like no one has ever heard of a safety or not keeping the gun loaded or just keeping it somewhere a damned four year old couldn't reach. Jesus wept.

I'm home though, and I plan to maybe not leave my home at all tonight. Just sit here with the kitty, who grows friendlier by the day and play some games or sort through some beads.

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There's just too much out there.

It is so overwhelming.

No joke. It is so overwhelming. :/

there are all manner of disgusting, inhuman acts going on out there at any given time. it's good to know that some people stand in the line of fire and say, in a loud voice, "you can't do that".

i applaud you with all my heart.

Thank you. I feel like I can't take much credit because my job isn't in the field and I don't confront people face to face. :/ But we triage and counsel and refer and do a lot at our hotline.

Perhaps a break is in order?

I am hoping with my new position that it will help. I will be spending much less time on the phones, talking directly with all our clients. I think with the training, the paperwork, the evaluations and all I will get some respite by focusing more on our workers.

I never studied to be a lifeguard, but the lore I know is that you aren't supposed to let the person who's drowning kill you.

Yes, there are fully functional families with caring parents who actually take some responsibility for the appropriate rearing of their children. But I'm guessing you never see them in your line of work. When I was younger I was quite the libertarian. I also work in a "social service" capacity and deal with the results of misconceived procreation. I'm increasingly authoritarian. I've begun advocating psychological fitness testing for potential parents, mandatory parenting classes for those with children on the way, and universal health care for kids. I can feel my illusions shattering like a beer glass through the front window of a honky-tonk.

I recommend a short vacation, and then finding a way to connect with a fully functional healthy family when you return.

Good luck, chin up, bottoms up!

Sometimes I wish someone would just call and say "I got a puppy! The kids are so happy!" Yeah, it is hard when all you see is the bad. It does make me intensely grateful for my friends with children though. Someone I knew from college had a baby this year, and another friend is expecting this month. Their happiness and excitement and just general good health is a relief.

Oh man, I am ALL about licenses to have babies! When I am dictator of Texas one day I will personally approve and reject everyone. :P

You are already a tsarina... I think dictator of Texas might be a demotion. ;-)

"All men want to be rich, a rich man wants to be king,
And the king won't stop until he rules everything."

Enjoy your power trip!

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Damn.

Re: Damn.

Re: Damn.

when one only deals with problems it is hard to see anything else

Re: when one only deals with problems it is hard to see anything else

Re: when one only deals with problems it is hard to see anything else