I help woman who deliver at our local hospital with breast feeding after discharge. Sometimes the cases are very simple, and sometimes they are very involved. Occasionally, I become more emotionally invested in the clients.

She's had a very tough time. At 6 mo pregnant her boy friend got into a bad accident and just recently got out of the hospital. He is on disability, so making a lot less, and has a ton of rehab ahead of him. He currently is still struggling with speech, can not walk, and does not have control of his bowels. In confidence she has stated that it almost feels like she has 2 newborns. I have become emotionally invested in her, because she needed it.

I asked her if she wanted to get out of the house for a bit, and she kept pushing me off. She's suffering from some depression and I think the isolation is certainly making it worse. I pushed and pushed and she started crying. She then admitted that she didn't have a car seat. That she had actually borrowed one in order to get her infant home from the hospital.

My heart broke. It made me realize that regardless of how destitute this time in our lives may feel, that my complaints about not being able to get weekly pedi's anymore is f-n ridiculous. It certainly made me refocus my energy into what really matters.