Compassion Unleashed: On Nursing, Motherhood & Breaking Barriers With Kristin Wagner

 

Embracing compassion, pivoting through life’s unexpected turns, and recognizing the unique talents in everyone define our captivating conversation in this episode. We are honored to feature Kristin Wagner, a multi-faceted individual who beautifully balances her roles as a Nurse, Nurse Educator, mother, wife, and former marathoner. Kristin shares her inspiring journey from Southern California, detailing her experiences as a young mother, her path to nursing—prompted by her firefighter father—and her dedication to education. We dive into her insightful views on empathy, especially for those with special needs, and her strategies for managing life’s demands. Get ready for rapid-fire questions, genuine anecdotes, and a deep dive into the beauty of humanity, the value of community colleges, and the extraordinary gifts we often overlook. Join us for a discussion that celebrates the power of dreams, the importance of organization, and the crucial impact educators have on shaping our future.

 

Music courtesy of Dealer’s Choice Sound Recordings, Inc.
Music artist: djezi

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Watch the episode here

 

Listen to the podcast here

 

Compassion Unleashed: On Nursing, Motherhood & Breaking Barriers With Kristin Wagner

More Alike Than We Think: A Mother’s Voice For Compassion And Capability

We had an exciting conversation with Kristin Wagner. Kristin is a middle child. She was a swimmer, a marathoner, a Nurse and Nurse Educator, along with being a mother and a wife. Kristin’s conversation brought to mind and reminded us that all people are human and deserve compassion. She also reminded us that special people with special needs have special talents that we just may not be aware of.

Angela, I so enjoyed our conversation with Kristin. It was awesome. We did some rapid-fire with Kristin, which is a new segment that we’re going to add. We would love for our audience to comment at BossLeapPodcast@Gmail.com with any suggestions for rapid-fire. I’m going to give you the honor of starting the rapid-fire so that our audience can better get to know us. What have you got for me? I’m ready.

Are you ready?

I’m born ready, girl.

You are. Some of these I already know. Sushi or steak? Let’s say Wagyu.

 Can I go back to Nobu? If I can go to Nobu, I’ll take sushi. I would prefer sashimi.

I’m talking about oceans here because I can’t give you the Atlantic or the Pacific because I already know your answer. Caribbean or Mediterranean?

Mediterranean, because I went to Marseille. Yeah, I think it’s Mediterranean because I just haven’t explored it enough. That’s a good one

Wedges or stilettos?

Both.

You do do both. Last one. Michael B. or Idris Elba?

That’s not even fair.

You asked me to bring it.

Idris is married, so that knocks him off. He’s age-appropriate, which is great.

We’re saying they’re not married and you are not married yet.

You can’t force me to choose. Michael B. Jordan may get wind of the fact that I chose Idris and I see him, he’ll be like, “Girl, you couldn’t choose me.”

Okay. Next time you’ve got to give me an answer, but, okay. I’ll give you grace. It’s your turn.

Thank you. Your questions were a lot better than mine. I’m going to tell you I am going to steal yours and say Mediterranean Sea or Caribbean Sea.

I’m going to steal one of your answers in both because there’s so much of the Caribbean I have not seen. I love everything about it, but I haven’t been to the Mediterranean either. That’s on my bucket list. Yeah, I’m going to have to say both. You could give me all the oceans and I’d say all of them.

Sushi or ramen?

Sushi.

I like the definitiveness. We already know that you use a lovely organizer that is paper and it’s got the tabs and all that. Do you want an organizer, there we go, with tabs or an organizer with a packet of five highlighter colors so that you can highlight?

For the months, tab. I need a separate tab for the days, the week that I’m on.

That’s all I got for you. We are going to continue this segment, and the next one will be Kristin Wagner.

I can’t wait.

 

 

We are in for a treat. I know every episode I say this is one of my favorite persons. It really is. We have Kristin Wagner. Kristin is a Nurse, a mother, a wife, an educator, a fellow Southern Californian. Kristin, welcome.

Thank you both so much for having me. Of course, I know Dr. Morris, but meeting you, Dr. Angela Walker, in person, fantastic. Fangirling a little bit because I’ve been listening since day one.

From Southern California Roots: Kristin’s Story Begins

Thank you so much. I’ve heard so many wonderful things about you and definitely, Sylvia, as a true Southern California girl, you didn’t fail to mention that that’s where you’re from. Also, I understand that you’re a marathoner. Never made it to that point, but she knows my love of running. We’d just like to start off by knowing a little bit about what made you, you, what was growing up like in Southern California?

I grew up in an area called the Inland Empire. We were the 714, then the 909, and then we became the 951. The ie. We’re tucked away, 30 minutes from the beach, 30 minutes from the mountain in a little valley there. Very diverse, very Latino, neighbors and families and friends. I don’t know, Dr. Morris, if you’re familiar with the mission in downtown Riverside, but I lived there.

I was born and raised and lived in the mission area of Riverside for quite some time. It’s very Spanish revival, very old, beautiful homes. My family moved next door to my dad’s parents, my paternal grandparents, when the house next door went up for sale. When I was six, we moved in next to our grandparents and lived there for a long time until about middle school. We ended up moving out.

To me, that sounds like a wonderful experience. I’m just curious, was as I’m imagining?

Yes, it was. I had very middle-income, normal upbringing. My parents are high school sweethearts. My dad’s from Long Beach. My parents’ family is from San Pedro. They met in high school,

South Bay.

Yes. They ended up getting married right out of high school, had my sister, me, and then my brother, all two years apart. Very close family. Weekends at the beach. Weekends at the mountains. Very involved in sports, so lots of sports as well to fill our time.

That sounds like a beautiful upbringing.

Yes, it does.

We’re family on this show. I’m Dr. Morris at work. Please, I’m Sylvia and this is Angela.

I’m Angela all the time, so it doesn’t really matter for me.

It’s so hard for me because it comes from such a respect level to address you by doctor, but, okay, I will try my best.

That’s like old school nursing. I love it. Actually, that’s a great segue. Tell us what drew you to nursing. I will share that my mom was a nursing instructor at Compton Community College, so I’m a big believer in a community college system, in particular in California. Can you share your journey with us?

A Young Mother’s Unexpected Path & The Power Of Community Colleges

Yeah. This is a safe space, so I’m just going to be open and honest and share. I was a young mom. Nursing was not even in the forefront of my mind. Vomit, blood, traumas, broken bones, not anything I ever wanted to deal with. It was not my wheelhouse. I did not ever want to do that. After becoming a mom at such a young age, my dad had approached me and he said, “You have such an empathic, kind heart. I really think that nursing would be something that you would be great at.”

He’s a firefighter, and when you take patients into the hospitals and all those things, he’s always really admired nurses and knew that maybe that would be a path that would be good for me because quick work, get out there, go to community college, start working within two years and be able to make a good life for myself and my child. That’s what I ended up doing. I went to Riverside City College. I also am a huge proponent for community colleges. I know everyone touts the four-year journey, but community college is fantastic. Riverside Community College had a 98% pass rate on the NCLEX test. It was great. I was really glad that I went there for my Associate’s degree.

I’m glad that you both are bringing up the community college route because I have to admit, from going to a four-year university, it was never in my radar. Growing up, I didn’t even know anything about community colleges. My husband started off and then went to a four-year university. I didn’t truly have an appreciation. I went and did some summer classes when I was an undergrad, but there are so many avenues out there, and I didn’t appreciate it until being a mother because you always think one way.

There are so many other avenues even trade schools and things like that I don’t think we talk enough about. I’m glad that you are able to shed some light on that route because clearly you are where you are now because of it. Thank you for bringing that up. Do you mind sharing with us how old you were? I love the stories about moms that maybe become pregnant early or, for whatever reason, it changed their path, but still went on to pursue their dreams.

Yeah. I got pregnant the fall after I graduated high school, so I made it out I made it out of graduation. I ended up getting pregnant that fall right after. I was eighteen, and then I had Bradley, my oldest. I had him just 13 days shy of my 19th birthday. Tumulus at the time. Scary. I thought my life was over, but we make it through with a lot of support. I’m very thankful for that.

What would you say to your nineteen-year-old self now if you had the opportunity to encourage her or to just pour into her? What would you say to her?

Besides the obvious, baby shouldn’t be having babies, even after that, I would say that there was a major self-confidence issue. Growing up, looking back, I didn’t think very highly of myself. I don’t know where that comes from. Looking back, I just wish I could hug myself and people like me and make myself realize that I’m worth it. I deserve space in a room. I’m smart, I’m capable. All of those things that we might not think about ourselves when we’re younger. Looking back, just knowing that I was capable of so much more than I really gave myself credit for.

Absolutely. It sounds like great advice and we could all use that when we were at that age.

We don’t always have a ton of self-confidence. I don’t think we talk about that enough, especially as women. We’re supposed to hold ourselves up and really promote this power. We always have these feelings of maybe not measuring up or not being good enough, and we don’t talk about it enough, but I think it’s a little bit more normal than what we realize.

Women often feel like they don't measure up or aren't good enough, and we don't talk about it enough. Share on X

Switching gears a little bit, you also mentioned your dad, and we tend to find this common thread in a lot of our interviews. It just takes that one person to say the one thing that can sometimes direct your path. It’s a blessing to have someone who sees something in you. You don’t have enough life experience to know that, “Okay, that’s an option for me.” Bravo to your father. Now you are, as I understand, a nurse educator. Having come from a nurse who was educated young and now you’re one of the educators. What do you enjoy about that?

 

 

Becoming A Nurse Educator: Sharing Knowledge And Passion

Before I went back and got my Master’s, I was a clinical instructor, so I would go to the hospitals with about 10, sometimes 15 students and spend 12 hours on the unit. I just loved being able to show them how things work outside of the classroom, where sometimes it’s a little bit more hectic and there are a lot of students, and sometimes they don’t get that one-on-one time.

I loved being able to show them in a calm, understanding, patient way how things work, and then just it clicking for them or it making sense. The next day, they’d come back to clinical and tell me, “I did great on my test because I thought about when you said that,” and those types of things. I did that for about four years before I was encouraged by the faculty at the college I teach at now to maybe transition into didactic and it’s very different.

A little bit scary. Sylvia helped me with the music and the cue cards. She says, “Play music and have cue cards, because it can be a little bit overwhelming.” Honestly, what I like so much about it too is that I’m always learning more. I have to keep myself educated. I have to keep myself aware because. I don’t want to set them up for failure. It helps me stay fresh and it keeps me new.

Kristin, I have to say that whenever I work with you, I know that the patients are going to be well taken care of, and your even handedness and just that internal calm keeps the area calm, and it makes it so much more enjoyable to work. We always have a good giggle, but as far as our patient care, I know why the students gravitate towards you and why they requested that you become a didactic instructor.

You’re knowledgeable, you have fantastic communication skills and you care and you can feel that. I’m super excited for your journey as a nurse educator. We know that we need more nurses and that the nurse educators are aging out and retiring, so I just wanted to say bravo, and I’m rooting for you, and I can’t wait to see how this evolves.

Thank you so much. It means a lot coming from you and I have to just give it right back that I have to say that you were really the first provider that would sit at the desk with us. Dr. Morris sits at the desk with us nurses.

That’s where all the tea is. You find out everything. You find out about the patient.

There are options where you can be tucked away if you want, but Dr. Morris is right there and communicating with us. I had been a nurse for fifteen years before I started where we’re now, and you’re really the first doctor that’s ever done that, so it definitely struck a chord with me, so I appreciate you very much.

Pivoting Paths & Running Marathons: Dreams And Dedication

Thank you. Also, that’s also a very small space, so it will be hard to be separate when you’re right there. I’m already ear hustling. Anyway, that’s for another conversation. Since we’re talking about this, you’ve done lots of things. Help us understand how you know how to pivot. I’m just going to mention, I read your bio, which is so moving. You were going to a cosmetology school and then you pivoted to nursing, and then you pivoted from being in Southern California to living here in the Atlanta area. Talk about your thought process around that.

I would say at heart, I am a dreamer, so I really put the thought in process before I really even put the logistics in order. Thank goodness, I’m married to a practical thinker because my husband, Kevin, definitely keeps me in line. I come up with all kinds of, “I want to do this and I want to do this.” Sometimes. He has to keep it a little more even-keeled. I want to do so many different things but I have to keep in mind my responsibilities as a mom as well. For me, cosmetology school was at the very beginning. That was before I even went into nursing. There was a time I thought about maybe going back. I went to orientation and I was like, “I am an old lady amongst these cute youngsters.”

You always have great hair.

Thank you.

Beautiful.

I ended up not, not doing cosmetology and that’s really when I stepped into the di didactic role of education. When do you know when to pivot? I think when you have this restlessness in you. You know that maybe you’re meant for a little bit more than what you’re doing now. You just got to put those steps in motion and follow through.

 

 

What I hear is, although the love of cosmetology was there, it wasn’t necessarily the fire anymore because clearly, you were someone that can go back and educate and you have this lifelong love of learning. If it was truly that calling at that moment, it sounds like you might have actually done that, but you were actually following this thing of something greater in terms of education or nursing education, if I’m hearing that right.

Yes, you are correct. A hundred percent, I feel like I am on the right path. I know I’m on the right path. I just feel good. I feel good where I am now.

Speaking of feeling good, can you tell us a little bit about what you enjoy about running marathons? I’ll just have to live through your voice in your eyes. I am definitely at this stage going to say I probably will not be able to run a marathon in my future. Maybe something less than that but I admire those that are still out there doing it.

I haven’t run any marathons since moving here to Georgia. There’s something, and I’m sure, because I know, Angela, that you like to run and you get that runner’s high. Have you heard of it? You get in this space where you just flow. You just run and nothing hurts. You don’t feel winded. You’re just running. I think that a lot of healthcare providers are drawn to running because we’re alone, and whether or not we have music or a podcast or a book in the background, you can really lose yourself in your thoughts.

Many healthcare providers enjoy running for the solitude it offers. Whether with music, a podcast, or simply their own thoughts, they can truly lose themselves. Share on X

It’s almost cathartic to be out there. The marathons were fantastic because they’re in areas like LA and San Diego. There’s so much sightseeing. With LA traffic, I was never going to be able to get those places in my car, but on foot. That marathon, I got to go through some of the coolest places in LA during that run. It was fantastic. I really enjoy it. I recommend everyone at least do a half-marathon in their lives. A full marathon is a bit lofty, but half marathons are just as great.

At what point do I get the runner’s high? I’m rubbing my knees just thinking about it.

For me, Kristin, I guess the roadblock to me ever doing a marathon was I got in the flow, as you mentioned. Thinking, “I can do a 10 K.” It felt so good until I got home because I had not done that distance before, and I was just out in the neighborhood and it just felt so good. Nothing hurt, as you mentioned, until the next day, then I was out. You tell us what you recommend.

I recommend not just going out and running a marathon, that’s for sure, but I recommend taking some months to lead up to it. You definitely have to go slow. I said, I recommend doing a couple of half marathons. I would do half marathons and not even be winded. I was like, “This was great.” I did a marathon one Saturday, and then the next day, Sunday, I did a half. I did end up with some injuries from that, but just the proper training. I could not do that now. I don’t even know if I can run a mile from deconditioning, but it is possible. You’ve got to give yourself time.

You mentioned you have a brother and a sister and just being the protector of your brother. How has that shaped you?

Compassion For All: Understanding And Protecting Special Needs

Yeah, so my brother David, he’s a little over two years younger than me. He was “normal,” you would say, up until about five. I would say kindergarten. He had little quirks and those types of things growing up, very animated but not until the age of five did we, my parents and myself, really recognize that there were some changes. He would do these things where he would like pinch us, and if we didn’t say ow, he would wonder if we were real, if we were robots. These paranoid thoughts. Of course, with schizophrenia, typically, you’re not diagnosed until you’re a young adult or older, a teenager. He was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia I believe at the age of 17, 18.

Growing up, being in school with him, I witnessed people are awful. Bullying, just the mistreatment that I had to witness with him, and then that innate need to be able to make sure he was safe and to protect him. I don’t know where it comes from, but I think it’s just a protection that is second nature. I’m a very quiet and reserved person, but when it came to him, absolutely not would I ever put up with or tolerate people mistreating him. If that’s what I was put on this planet for, to be able to make it through life with him, then that’s what I’m here for because I love him. He’s in Southern California, but we talk, call him via text or chat on the phone, just to keep in contact with him constantly.

Can we talk a little bit more about this topic, and especially from your state of mind, being an older sister? You saw the bullying and the mistreatment firsthand, unfortunately, in school. I wouldn’t necessarily ask you what you would tell other children, but what would you tell parents that are raising kids in an atmosphere where there are neuro neurodivergent kids? There are kids with all types of different personalities, some personality disorders. Everyone’s just different.

Some people, there’s definitely something noticeable in their behavior. What would you say to your next-door neighbor who has a child that’s going to school? How would you tell them, “When you see someone that’s different, this is how you behave, or what you don’t tolerate? What you would do if there was mistreatment?”

I think that we, as humans, compartmentalize people. We are all just people. We need love, we need friendship. We need attention. I think that people forget that people with mental health needs, or people that are special needs or able bodied are human. We are all the same. I would just encourage parents that have children with special needs, or even parents that have children that are neurotypical, keep in mind that everyone you approach, everyone that you encounter, at the root, they are just people, and you don’t need to be afraid.

I think a lot of times, it comes from a point of fear of not knowing how to interact. Of course, it can be scary when you’re at the grocery store and someone comes by you and they’re talking to themselves and those types of things. It can be startling, but 9 times out of 10, they’re not there to hurt you. They’re in their internal world. They deserve respect. They deserve the same treatment as anybody else.

Thank you so much for reminding us to be compassionate. Are there any myths that you’d like to bust around children who are either special needs or who have mental illness?

They are so capable. That is a myth that I think a lot of people don’t understand. They are so special in ways that typically family members that are around them get to witness but other people don’t. My oldest son, Bradley, the one that I had young, we didn’t find out until he was nineteen that he has something called Kabuki syndrome, which is a gene deletion when he was in utero. It was a fluke that happens.

He is so smart. If I ask him something that happened eight years ago, he can tell you to a dime exactly what happened. They’re able-bodied in ways that we are not. They are special in ways that we are not, that neurotypical people are not. I really think that there are a lot of strengths in our special needs adults and children that we could benefit from if we would just open our minds a lot more to what they have to offer.

There are significant strengths in our special needs adults and children that we could benefit from by simply opening our minds more to their potential contributions. Share on X

Balancing Motherhood And Career: Secrets To A Supportive Life

I love that idea and that sentiment. I hope we can pass that on for sure. You are a mom. You mentioned your oldest, but you have three boys, correct?

Yes, I do.

You’re this very busy, Nurse and Nurse Educator. How do you balance parenting with everything else on your plate right now?

I cannot do it alone. My husband gets so much credit. He is my backbone. Very supportive and has been my cheerleader from day one. My husband was my boyfriend. We had our son young, but we ended up making it through, and we’ve been together for a long time, married for a long time as well. Since day one, he’s always really wanted me to do my very best. We make sure that our schedules line up. He is a business owner, and he tries to make sure that his schedule works around mine.

We still love to do the drop off. The boys can take the bus to school, but I love to be that mom who can drop them off in the morning and can be there when they get home from school. The beauty of nursing education is having those flowers for my boys. I miss out on a weekend day every now and then, but they don’t know any different. They were born into Mama’s nursing schedule, so that’s just how it goes. The only way I’m able to do it is with support from family.

Drop off, great. Pickups were the best. There was a time we had a babysitter, and then she wasn’t able to pick up. I adjusted my schedule. Just the best information that your kids can give you. I appreciate that. It’s nice that you’re able to do that. I know that you still probably, like on the weekend days or those days where your schedule doesn’t allow and you miss events, how do you handle the mom guilt? Do you have a way of preventing that in terms of how you process those misses?

I have no way of preventing mom guilt. It’s a real thing. I try to prepare them ahead of time. The worst would be if there’s a big event and I tell them I’m going to be there and that I can’t. I think that the boys knowing that I’m not going to be there makes it a little bit more okay for them, because I can’t do everything. Dad really tries to make it so that at least one parent is there with him.

We used to have their grandparents when we were in Southern California, and they really showed up as well. Now that we’re a smaller unit here, we just try to make sure at least one parent can always be present and it’s on video. Thank goodness for smartphones, because I can’t be there in person sometimes, but I can hear it and I can see it.

Rapid Fire: Fun Questions And Self-Care Regimens

We have a few rapid-fire questions before our last question, Kristin. Are you ready?

I am ready.

It’s very important. Swimming or running?

Running now because of hair.

This is a tough one now. In-N-Out or Chick-fil-A?

In-N-Out through and through.

That is definitely a California thing.

In-N-Out came to Dallas, and I knew about it because we vacationed in California. I’m trying to think, was that Dallas? Wherever we were at the time, it was a new phenomenon, and we were like, “What is that? Did we miss something here?” Anyway, I get it.

A little taste of home.

Exactly. I get it.

Finally, podcast or book or eBook?

Podcast. Yes, that’s an easy one.

Good answer. We like that one. Can you tell us something about your self-care regimen, what it might look like now, or what you’d like it to look like? You’re a dreamer, so what your dream regimen might look like.

My dream regimen would cost a lot of money.

Bring it.

You know what’s so funny about self-care is that I guess we do things that we don’t really realize are self-care. I’ve listened to a lot of the ladies that come through on the show and I guess the bedtime routine of doing all the things to our face, trying to maintain the youth as long as we can. I’ve got about a twenty-minute skincare routine at night. I used to love taking baths, but it would take too long. I’d be in there for hours. I had to cut that because it was taken way too long, as much as I enjoy them. Not anymore.

I’m a shower first, and then soak in the bath after, type of thing. My dream. Have you guys ever seen how people do those schedules where they’ll show what they do in the morning and how everything is so perfect? If I could have a self-care routine, it would be getting up at the same time every day. I love a good schedule to the dot when it comes to time.

Getting up at the same time every day, working out every morning, having my tea or coffee at a specific time, getting my boys in the car to go to school. I think, to me, just having a schedule that I can follow because if I can’t schedule, follow a schedule, then I feel like my day is gone. Having a good schedule is self-care as well.

Having a good schedule is self-care as well. Share on X

I think we had, again, another thread that sounds familiar when one of the thoughts was preparing your dream schedule or what would your dream day look like. Actually, having a day that completely follows that, I still haven’t seen that day come to fruition, but we can always set those goals, right?

Yes. Of course, I’d love to get my hair done every month. I’d love to get my nails done every two weeks, all those things, but we’ve only got so many hours in a day. Someday, that’ll happen.

As the people say, soon come. Kristin Wagner, I cannot tell you, I’m so grateful that you were able to spend some time with us here. Is there a way in which people can follow? Is there some a social media contact that you would like to share?

I really only have my personal Instagram. It’s not very inspiring. It’s just pictures of family. That’s inspiring. I will share it. It’s @QBeeWith3 because I’m the queen bee in my household. The only female. I’m not really active on TikTok or Facebook that much. I would get nothing done in the day if I was.

You’re a busy lady doing great things. We cannot thank you. It was so nice to meet you, and I’ve heard so many wonderful things about you. It’s nice to know that there are, going back to the beginning of the interview, some very grounded, calm educators out there. I know that’s how I was trained. I remember very well having a physician who actually delivered my babies, who was one of my attendings. Her demeanor in the emergency situation shaped how I treated patients and how I was in the delivery room. It makes a difference how you’re trained. It’s very nice to know that there are people out there who are making a difference in how healthcare is delivered. We appreciate all that you’re doing.

Well, thank you.

The future of nursing is in good hands, so thank you.

Thank you for saying so. I appreciate you both so much for having me. Thank you.

Yes, until we meet again. May you be well.

Thank you.

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Key Takeaways: Empathy, Humanity, And Educators’ Impact

Sylvia, that was such a beautiful conversation with Kristin Wagner. Just nice conversation about life in general, and humanity and taking care of patients, teaching other people to take care of patients. I think we tend to overlook the impact that educators have on how we practice medicine, on how we approach problems, solve problems. It’s typically those people that are able to problem solve without freaking out about things and actually have empathy for others that teach us the best. Just curious in terms of pearls of wisdom, what your takeaways were with Kristin.

I actually want to shout out one of our educators, Dr. Chip Read, a pulmonologist at Georgetown. Dr. Read taught me how to read an X-ray. Truthfully, it was also the first time I felt confident standing in front of it. It was a light box. Yes, I’m dating myself. Looking at an X-ray, it was a life-altering experience for me in medical school.

It was so wonderful to have this conversation with Kristin and knowing that she is a nurse educator. She gave us so many pearls. One of my favorites, and I wasn’t surprised to hear, is that she’s a dreamer. It reminded me certainly the importance of dreams and planning our dreams so that they come true. Having a good skincare regime, and how she likes a good schedule. I was like, “My girl. I agree with that.” What about you?

I’m going to start with the shout-out as well. I don’t know if I talked about this in the beginning, but one of my attendings when I started residency and who I actually chose to be my OBGYN, was Dr. Manju Monga. Just a beautiful soul, a wonderful teacher. Everyone’s freaking out. You’ve got a baby that needs to be delivered immediately. She was the calm voice in the room that could walk you through things. She’s who I chose and who I honestly patterned my behavior after when treating patients in a delivery room, where you need that calm voice so that everyone else knows, “We just have a job to do and get it done.” I’m going to do my shout-out as well.

I think from Kristin’s takeaways, what I got was just humanity. That’s shown through her interview, and certainly I know you to respect her tremendously. Having empathy. I loved her sentiment. I’m just curious, what can we teach our kids? I certainly taught my kids or try to, when something’s going on with somebody, there’s always a story behind it.

You have to give people grace, whether they’re just acting out, they’re being ugly, they’re being mean, but certainly for special needs or neurodivergent people, I definitely feel like my kids picked up on those things early in other people and were compassionate. So much so that I remember my youngest being very protective of a little classmate in the 4th or 5th grade.

She was just irate that someone would say something mean to that person and came home and tell. I said, “That’s a good thing. You also should talk to your teacher and let them know what’s going on. They’re the ones that can handle that.” Having compassion and empathy for others, and then I will echo you, and we talk to so many people who have someone in their life with special needs. Everyone has a talent, a gift. Whether it’s just bringing love into your life and making you smile, or making you giggle, it’s important to recognize everyone’s gift, even though they may not be traveling the same path as you. Everyone has a gift. Those were my takeaways. That was nice.

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May you be well.

 

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About Kristin Wagner