I am a big kid at heart.

I love going into the toy stores (or even the big chain stores) and cruising the toy aisle. I can spend ages going through this aisle.

I really enjoy checking out the children’s books, deciding which ones to buy for the new additions to my already huge extended family. I get excited looking through the books and trying to find the perfect book for my cousin’s child’s 1^st Birthday, or the cute little dress up outfit for my best friend’s 3 year old.

This is where my profession as a speech pathologist overlaps with my personal experiences. When looking through those books, I cannot help but think “Now, which book would continue to build those already appropriate language skills” or “Ooh, that book has lots of ‘p’ and ‘b’ words in it, perfect for a 1 year old!”

While several occupations allow you to leave work at the workplace, it is hard to ‘zone out’ when it comes to being a speech pathologist. You are always thinking about communication and swallowing issues, whether it be listening to that news reader with the tongue thrust lisp and wishing you had had the opportunity to assist them when they were young or watching a medical drama where the doctors are assessing a patient’s swallowing (post stroke) and thinking “Oops! Shouldn’t there be a speechie near by?”

This is why we really have to love our occupation.

I love my role as a speech pathologist. It excites me that I have the knowledge to help me think carefully about which toy I will purchase for my little 2 year old cousin to build turn-taking skills, or which textured book is fun for my favourite 4 year old who is sensory seeking.

Love what you do and do what you love.

I do. 🙂

CB