time traveling as an OT

About a month ago, I went "home" to my parents' house in Ohio (where we all grew up) for a summer get-together with the whole family.  It was my three older brothers, their respective wives, the middle brother's 3-year old little girl, and our grandmother... and of course my parents and I.  My middle brother's wife wasn't actually able to make the long trip (it's a 12-hour drive for them) due to her work, so all the aunts really pitched in to give my bro a break... and because the little trouble maker is CUTE as can be.

I had a BALL playing with my niece and being a little girl. She is showing some delays for her age.  I don't think she necessarily has a disability or autism or anything, but she does have some sensory processing issues, she is not yet potty-trained, and is a really picky eater.  I also picked up on a little bit of echolalia... but I haven't been around a lot of examples of that so I can't say for sure.  I don't have enough peds experience!

Even though the little one behaved a little bit differently than we expected a three-year-old to behave, I felt really comfortable playing with her, modeling for her, and even teaching her in subtle ways.  I feel like it wasn't that long ago that I was three years old.  I remember things I responded to for behavior... like finishing my dinner so I could have dessert... or someone telling me I was acting like a "baby" instead of a "big girl"... and the worst was when my brothers or parents would imitate me when I was crying/whining about something.  I hated it!  When little one would cry or whine about something silly, I would start to copy her-- stomp my feet on the ground and pout and cry.  It would only take seconds before she'd start watching me and realize I look really silly and just start laughing.

I haven't been around little kids all that much... but the times I have, I've always loved!  In high school and college, I used to always volunteer for Vacation Bible School, tutoring elementary and junior high school students, babysitting, and the list goes on.  It was never my sole purpose, but I always liked it.

Now that I'm out in my career as an OT... I'm wondering if there is a place for me in pediatrics.  A couple of weeks after that weekend, I noticed an advertisement for a position in an outpatient pediatric therapy clinic.  I looked at their website, and I immediately got super intimidated.  A week or so later, I saw it was still posted.  I still wasn't sure whether I should apply, but I started updating my resume and creating a cover letter template, and thinking about what I would say if a pediatric OT asked me why I was qualified for such a position.  A few days after that, I got my courage up to fill out their application and send it along with my resume, references and a cover letter explaining my strength for adapting to new situations... and didn't hold my breath.

Sure enough... I got an email a couple days letter inviting me for an interview!  I was shocked!  That interview day came yesterday, and I was nervous about it all week.  I questioned whether I was really ready for this big of a change in my career -- geriatrics to pediatrics -- but ultimately decided that every interview is a good learning experience, regardless of the outcome.  The interview was amazing!  I really clicked with the OT supervisor who showed me around and interviewed me.

I am still not sure whether I am ready for a big change in my career.  I still love what I am doing with my old folks everyday, and I am good at it.  I feel like I just started yesterday... but I also feel that I am just now starting to get the hang of things after being at it for almost a year.

The interviewer seemed to really like me.  She told me she had interviewed 8 people already, but just didn't feel like she had found anyone that quite fit.  She explained that it wasn't enough for anyone to come in with a great resume and laundry list of pediatric experience, but that the person had to be the right fit, be willing to learn, and be ready to interact with the kids, and of course with the parents.  After I felt comfortable talking with her, I was very honest in saying that I wasn't sure if I was ready yet for a big change in my career, but that I feel like I am in an exploratory and transitional phase.  She actually brought up the possibility of starting with them part-time, to "get my feet wet" as sort of a trial-run.  In the back of my mind this whole time, that is just what I was hoping for to get my foot in the door with pediatric OT.

I love the work I do with the older adult population, and I know I am needed there.  But I want to know what else is out there for me.  I want to keep doors open so that when it comes time for me to make a change, that I will have opportunities.  I have 40 more years to work, but maybe only a few more where I am young and adventurous and bold and willing to try new things and accept failure.  I want to know what opportunities are out there right now.  I always talked about going back to peds when I have kids, but 10 years from now-- these jobs and opportunities might not be there!  Or what if I spend too long in one specialty/area that it makes it even harder to make that leap?

My mom's advice: "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush!"  Maybe my time for a change is only a month from now.  I am going to go back to the clinic in a couple weeks to "observe" and meet some of the other therapists.  I have to say, exploring these possibilities is pretty exciting.