I am the social work lady who is human

Do social workers need to be "on" all the time?

When I lived, worked, and attended school in Atlanta I spent quite a bit of time walking in downtown. Like most urban downtown cities Atlanta has its share of homeless folks.  I am not bothered by homelessness (well, I'm bothered that it exists and as a social worker want everyone to have adequate housing, but I'm not bothered in a "Oh go away" type of bothered). Anyway...if a person on the street who was likely to be homeless spoke to me I spoke back; depending on my mood and the circumstance I might hand over a couple of dollars or loose change. I even found myself in a heated debate with a man one time over the virtues of giving money to the homeless. He said I needed to do more to help humanity. Much to his dismay I had had a difficult day of seeing non-compliant clients and was on my way to a night class for which I was not prepared. I snapped at him that I was a social worker and well understood the plight of the oppressed and down-trodden and didn't need him to give me a lecture about my moral duties! Well, from that day on anytime he saw me he would yell out "Hey social worker lady" and laugh, which would make me laugh.  I often bought him lunch, chatted with him about how he got to be homeless, etc.

Anyway...today while walking my son in the park (a new activity as I'm trying to loss the pregnancy weight that remains on my body), two men began engaging me in a conversation about my son.  I think they were flirting, but anyway...the conversation turned to me helping them with money for the bus and dinner. I happened to be walking in the park that is across the street from where our family attends church. Every night of the week a different organization prepares and serves dinner.  So I referred the men across the street as it was dinner time (this was just about 30 minutes ago). Wrong thing to do I suppose. Because they began a rant about why people never really wanted to help their fellow man and just because they were hanging out in the park didn't mean they were homeless, etc., etc., etc.  I recalled the day I snapped at the man in Atlanta and instead said "My son and I will be happy to escort you to the church for dinner, but we do not give money to people we don't know. I'm also happy to write down for you an agency in town that can help you on an ongoing basis." (the social worker in me at work).

One of the guys said "You must be a social worker or something." and they both began to laugh! I said "I am a social worker and very proud to be so, and the offer still stands."  They didn't take me up on my offer but I did see them walking towards the church, hopefully they ate a yummy dinner.

I am the social worker lady who sometimes has no patience for helping others (shame on me right) and other times can't help myself from helping others. After all, I am human and sometimes I am not "on" my social worker game! Oh well...I try.