Hello and welcome to Hear Me Out, the official podcast of the Masonic Children's Clinic for Communication Disorders. This is the place where we dive into all things related to communication disorders and how we can best support the kids and families affected by them. We will be talking with speech language pathologists, clinic staff, families and donors to share stories, insights, and the impact of providing free speech, language and hearing services to children across our community. I'm Niki Lampi speech language pathologist and director of the clinic, And I'm Tamara Pogin, also a speech language pathologist with a focus on working with autistic children and their families. And we are your hosts. We're so glad you're here. Welcome. Today, we are excited to have two people. You have known as the friendly, welcoming, helpful people at the front. We love them. They support the therapists and families and are integral to the functioning of our clinic. Emily Wolf is our office manager and Andrea oh, oh, Ian. Is that what I always said thi should we leave that in Emily, miss Andrea, that's what we call you. Emily Wolf is our office manager and Andrea Theon is our therapy aide. Welcome ladies. Thank you. Thank you for having us. Very excited to have you here, and I, I'm excited to share your stories with people because everybody that comes in. Knows you and always comments about how welcoming and, friendly you are and how you make it such a fun place. And yeah. So this'll be the behind the scenes of Emily and Andrea World. Yeah. It's about time. We're real people. Real people with real life. Yeah. Outside of here Emily, why don't we start with you? tell us a little bit about your background. All right. So I am from a very small town in central Wisconsin. I graduated with a class of 40, I think seven people. Oh, really? Small. Mm-hmm. And went to college at UW Stout for hotel management. Which is where I graduated from. So hotel management, what made you decide to go into that? Yeah, I liked being around people. I still do. And I wanted something that was gonna be different every day. I was nervous about just like, doing the same thing every day and kind of getting bored with it. Mm-hmm. So I, I've watched a movie one day called Red Eye. I don't know if anybody has seen it. She's a hotel manager. Anyway, she saves the president. It's a whole thing. And I was like, I wanna work at hotel. You could see with the president Hotel hero. Yeah. So I did. That's why I decided to go into it sort of on a whim and then. It worked out. I did. I stayed with the same company for about eight years and lived in Walker, Minnesota for a little bit, and then up the North Shore in Luton and Grand Mare. And then an opportunity for me and my boyfriend, Pete who also works for Odyssey? An opportunity within the company opened up in Duluth and we had wanted to move a little closer to home. so yeah, that's how we ended up here. And after a couple years of just 24 7 kind of busy, busy, busy. Being on call all the time, being on call all the time. and just, I don't know if now being in Duluth, there were so much more opportunities where I felt like up in Lutsen and Grand Marais, it's like, you know, retail or hotels. Mm-hmm. And kind of more limited. Yes. And not to retail, but, um, so, after I had been working there for a while, I decided that I wanted to do something. A little different, And I just started looking around and when I happened upon the clinics, that the clinic was hiring for an office manager, I was like, this is so cool because, both of my parents were very involved in like Special Olympics and all of that, and they just. Are great people and help people. they're just good people in general. And I kind of wanted to do something that was just bigger than me and help give back and all of that. And yeah, so I found this job and I, I was a little nervous at first 'cause I'm like, okay, office manager. I don't know if I'm gonna just be in an office all day. Am I gonna like that? Um, and you're rarely in your office. Yeah. Let's just say that's not a worry anymore. Um, so yeah, I like, I love working here 'cause it's just like diff it's truly different every day and just not being on the computer all day. Sometimes I'm helping with childcare or. Running around resetting the internet or hauling in tiles for our sensory room. You've become like our onsite technology person. You are the technology wizard. We, yeah. So, yeah, and I think in the end, like I learned all of that from working in hotels. You know, you're, you're on call and you're just there to do it. So I think that's just the kind of personality I have is if it needs to be done, I'll. Try my best to take care of it. Well, and I know everyone here appreciates you so much because you are always, you know, ready to, to step in and help whenever anything goes wrong. Yeah. And there's a lot of little things that, you know, yeah. Go wrong with. Yeah. Computers, printers, schedules. Yes. Anything you can think of. So Emily's, Emily's kind of the magic woman. She gets it done. Well, thank you. Well, and we always think about that. What. The therapist, I'm speaking for all of us. I hope that's okay everyone, You enable us to do our job so we can focus on the kids mm-hmm. So that we're not upstairs, you know, trying to get something to print when we're supposed to be seeing kids. Yeah. Or we're not upstairs or, or hiding in the basement trying to reset the internet. Yes. Because we need to, write a report mm-hmm. Or something like that. We just, you just free us up to do those things. And that's really cool that you have like, diversified yourself to figure that out. Yes. And that's one big thing too, when, for the therapy aid, I was always like. The goal for our jobs is to help the therapist to be able to spend as much time with families and kids as they can. So whatever it is that we need to do, let's, we'll just do it. We'll do it. Yeah. I couldn't do my job without Emily either. as director, she helps me with all kinds of information tracking. She okay. You're kind of like my memory when I need it, which is funny because Andrea is my memory. I highly doubt that. I constantly feel like I'm like. Yeah, I'll do that. And then I like five hours later, Andrew's like, did you ever, and I'm like, Nope, I didn't. Thank you. We keep each other on track. We do, I think. I think like, yeah, we all work really well together and support each other, but truly I could not do my job without Emily. She is really such a foundation of the clinic and of what goes on both with a therapist and with administration, and she's just wonderful. Thank you. So thank you and Andrea. Also wonderful. Thank you. Well, and just again, speaking of who helps us as therapists do our jobs, so can you give us some background about how you came to the clinic? Yeah, so I am originally from the St. Cloud area. And I've been in Duluth for about five years now. I came up in 2020 for college, at UMD, which got a little crazy. I was originally intending to be a speech pathologist, but. COVID happened and life got crazy. Things change, and now I just have a general degree in communications and somehow it brought me here I was, which is a funny coincidence. It's crazy how that works. That's where you were going? Yeah. Initially I feel really blessed to be. In kind of the same location I would wanna be in with, you know, people I would love to be around. Mm-hmm. So I feel really lucky to be here. I've been here about two years now. That's crazy. It is crazy how time flies. I feel like right off the cuff I felt, welcomed by everyone and I think it gives us a glimpse of how families probably feel too, if I felt that welcomed as a staff member. True. You know, we kind of project that same vibe to our families too. So it's, it's been wonderful. Well, we it's been great having you here and I can't believe it's only been two years. I know. I feel like you've been here. Like the whole time. Yeah. And I feel like people felt that way right off the cuff of, you know, asking me to do things that I've never done before because they just assumed that I've been here. Like really? Yeah. Really? You haven't done that before? So. Emily talked about, you know, how her day is very, always very different, but could you walk us through a theoretical day of some of the tasks that you do and how you guys switch back and forth between your different roles here? Yeah, absolutely. So our days are very different. Um, both of us. Some days, you know, my schedule is full of childcare, um, for siblings. Mm-hmm. So I'm out in the waiting room, playing with toys, playing with the kiddos, keeping them company. But some days if I have no childcare, I'm just behind the desk probably doing projects. I'm cutting and laminating. all the fun things for behind the scenes. So the materials that we use in therapy. Yeah, you're such a great supporter and creator of those things. Mm-hmm. Yeah, and Tamara and I always appreciate it 'cause we're not. Art, we're not craft, we're not, and I didn't realize how artsy and crafty I was until I started working here and it's cool. Kind of just picked, picked it right up. Mm-hmm. Yeah. I told Andrea when, I don't know if when it was that she started or later on, but I was like, you know, when you need help with projects and things, I can cut and laminate like nobody's business. But beyond that, not my strong suit. So if. She does have like a lot of childcare and a lot of projects. Usually I would do childcare because I don't trust that my projects are gonna turn out quite as great as hers do. So I can call in the backup from Emily in the office. Yes. Which is always really appreciated. It's nice to be able to have that flexibility and check in, what does your day look like already? Are you super busy? Can you be a bit more flexible? It's, it's awesome that we have that ability. Yeah. I feel like we make a really good team. Like a, a lot of it is sort of like we're in a relationship and we don't, we can finish each other's sentences. Sometimes it's crazy, sometimes it's kind of weird, but I just feel like it flows so well. Mm-hmm. And I think also the families probably feel that like, yeah, absolutely. We're very easy going. A benefit, Is that We both came from customer service. Mm-hmm. And I think having that customer service background makes us very good at what we do, even though it's not. Technically customer service. Yeah. We're still around people. Yeah. And having that interaction that you do get in that customer service position. Yeah, and what I say from you guys too is that like you have each other's backs. Mm-hmm. You know, hundred, you're flexible and you support each other. It's not, I do this, you do that. It's like, how can we help each other out to get the needs of these families met? Yeah, I do feel like we are as like one entity and we just like flow wherever we need to within each other. That sounded weird. Take that out. Okay. This is, you're like water. Yeah. I'm trying to come up with a, I remember. Yeah. So right when Andrea started, I remember, we had been without a therapy aid for a while and we were really. Feeling that pull and, that need because, you know, Emily would do it when she can, but she does have administrative tasks that she needs to get done. And so there was this one little girl that loved Emily, and she looked at. At Andrea with the biggest suspicion. Mm-hmm. She's like, you are? Mm. I'm not sure about you lady. Yeah. And so then you guys made this plan, we'll play all together. And then Emily slowly back, oh, she caught me. Okay. I'll stay. And I don't know how long you guys, do you know who I'm talking about? Yes, I do. And I think we made the decision. I just did childcare for her. Yes. Oh yeah. It was like a few of. I mean, we had a few people that, yeah, when we didn't have a therapy aid and I was doing the childcare that then when Andrea came in, they were so comfortable with me where it's like, whoa. It's a big change for someone. Yeah. It's, but that one in particular, yes, I did just, I just played with her. 'cause I was like, it's less stressful for everybody. And, and again, isn't that interesting, because, you know, we hired Andrea for that, but then you guys are looking at the needs of the child individually when mm-hmm. I can spend 40 minutes with her. Yeah, we can do that. Yeah. That's really cool that you did that. I just remember you guys like trying to problem solve it out and, and we've had a couple yes. Different situations like that as well that, you know, maybe childcare didn't go great the first time with me, so we'll try Emily next time and yeah, eventually. Normally the child will warm up to both of us at some point. Yeah, definitely. But it takes time for everyone to feel comfortable in a new space. And with new people, especially when your parents are leaving Aren. Mm-hmm. It's a moment of vulnerability. Mm-hmm. Right. And so childcare is something that has gotten pretty big. Mm-hmm. so the child who gets therapy goes back with a therapist and the parent, and then if they have siblings, one of you watch the sibling So that the parent can have more attention to the child in therapy. Yeah. That was a long way of saying what it is, but what have you heard from families or the kids themselves about just that whole process Yes. I think one thing that's really cool is the sibling themselves are excited to come here. Mm-hmm. they're not just sitting in the waiting room with their parent reading a magazine or whatever, or We truly, I mean, yes, we have toys in the lobby, but then we get different toys or play however they wanna play or do whatever they need to do. I think they're just excited to come. 'cause then it's also their time. Yeah. Yeah. Sometimes kids will call it like. My speech teacher when we're out there and it's, it's really sweet that they get to feel included and not just like, oh, my sibling gets to go back and do all these fun things and I'm stuck here. Mm-hmm. They, they have their special person too. They do. Yeah. It's really, really enjoyable. Yeah. And Andrea. Is so special that sometimes she gets some nice little gifts. I have gotten many gifts. You know, we have the wood chips out front. Those often make their way up to the front desk. I've gotten rocks, flowers, lovely. My craziest one was soup. Oh yeah, I was doing childcare one day and we were talking about how this child's mom made the most incredible bacon potato, cheesy soup. Ooh. And I said I might have to get the recipe. Instead of the recipe, the next day they came with a Tupperware full of soup. For me, it was the sweetest thing ever. It's very sweet. So nice. Yeah. Yeah. It just kind of speaks to that connection of like, this is my person. Yeah. And they're my people too. Yep. Yeah. I really love working with the kiddos. Yeah. So when you're working with the kiddos and things like that, sometimes, I know that you've worked with. Siblings that have language delays themselves. Mm-hmm. so I think that might be a challenge for you guys as you're connecting and working, but is there any other, like that challenge or any other challenges that you've come across that working, um, as with sibling care. Yeah, I feel like one of the biggest things, like Nikki already touched on is childcare has become really big, specifically in the summer, when siblings aren't in school, so we're just. Busy sometimes. Some days are crazy and there's childcare almost every hour with not only just one kid, but sometimes we have four or five kids in the lobby. so that's when we, we are both out there, which is always appreciated to have someone that. I can just call to, and you know, she'll drop pretty much everything to make it work. we've also had some lovely volunteers that have been able to help us conquer those challenges of just being able to keep everyone safe and happy and regulated in the waiting room when it gets crazy. Um, we love our volunteers, especially for our different parent groups that happen in the evenings mm-hmm. Where we might have more. Siblings at a time than usual, or more kids at a time than usual. Yeah. Yeah. Our volunteers are great. It's always nice to have an extra set of hands and an extra set of eyes. Yes. I think one challenge that comes to mind too is sometimes when we do have multiple families that we're doing childcare for. If they're different ages, sometimes it's hard for one person to do childcare then for two kids. Mm-hmm. If one is eight and the other is two. Mm-hmm. So that's a lot of times we'll take team those as well. Yeah. Because they both really need a one-on-one. Um, so that sometimes can be a challenge. We make it work. Mm-hmm. If one of us isn't there or whatever. But it just feels better when both of us are there to give the child the attention that need a full, yeah. Yeah. Otherwise, it feels like they're sharing all of their time when we're trying to make sure things stay out of mouths for the little ones while playing a game with the older kiddos, it gets, yes. Yeah. Well, and sometimes it's hard to know who's having more fun if it's the kids or if it's you. Like it's a toss up something. Mm-hmm. We do have a lot of fun down there. We do. Yeah. Which also is great, is a Yeah. That's why we're here. Exactly. Yeah. And we wanna make it not. Like a sterile place to be we want families to come in here and immediately feel relaxed and happy to be here. And I think also the kids feel that because sometimes the minute they come in, they kick their shoes off and the parents are like, this isn't home. And they're like. I remember one kid used to come in and just whip his jacket off and his shoes, and the mom would just be picking everything up behind him because he's just like, I'm like, I'm home. Love that. So I think that's cool. And I love too that your childcare isn't prescriptive. Meaning like, you're not, first we're gonna read a story and then we have to do this, and then you, you kind of like, again, following that child's lead, like I remember there was, you know, somebody in the waiting room and she goes, well, we read 20 books today. Oh yeah. And that was that child's. focus and, and love. And then somebody would be like, they don't look at the books. They're like, I'm, that's not my thing. I wanna build. Mm-hmm. Or I wanna do the bowling for the full time. Mm-hmm. And you're like, okay. Or hide and seek. Ooh. Yeah. Hide and seek has become a hot commodity in the lobby. And you wouldn't think so. 'cause if you've been in the lobby, there are only about maybe. Four places to hide, especially as an if your child, oh, sorry, as a child, as an adult, no places, maybe two if you wanna really get on your hands and knees and go under things, but the kids find you right away. So it's pointless. Um, but that is also a very mm-hmm. Hot game. Well, and then that did that kinda lead to some of our, games that you play for everyone. Like you guys hide Our little Masonic Children's Clinic puzzle pieces or you're like, get a sticker if you find our little smiley face or our Christmas star, or things like that. And so that's been really cool that you keep that going year round almost. Yeah. Yeah. And that's fun for all ages too, so it's, yeah. Mm-hmm. Something everyone do. Yeah. Because if someone older finds it, then I let them hide it for the next people, and they enjoy that aspect of it too. And you're so creative and you've done other things, for everybody in the clinic, like having flower petals for the kids to color on and put that on the wall to make flowers in the spring. What are some of your favorite activities like that that you've done? One of my big favorites that we do annually is our Polar Express, experience, I guess you could call it. Oh, I like that word. Yeah. Mm-hmm. So we have a big projector in a dark room that we can take the kids along the way of the Polar Express. So we do that near, near the holidays every year, which is something that. Not only do the kids look forward to it, but it's fun for me too. Mm-hmm. And it's, it's really special because oftentimes siblings will get to join for these fun experiences and that's just a blast to see everyone together, with their parents. See the family dynamics. And just the joy that it brings them, it's, it's really amazing. And that is so funny. You have the hot chocolate and the bells Yes. And yeah. And the music. Mm-hmm. And kids will remember it year to year, like get excited when they hear that it's coming up again. Mm-hmm. And yeah, it's cool to give kids that routine, even if it's just that once a year thing. Yeah. How about for you Emily? Mine is a tossup between our Halloween Carnival and cider press. Um, so our special events, yes. Alright. We have special events for the whole family. Yes. So that makes sense. Yes. And I like the Halloween ones specifically because I remember hearing the first year we did it a lot of parents saying like, oh, we. We don't really go trick or treating because it's just, it's too much, you know? Mm-hmm. They're running around and all that kind of stuff, but they felt safe enough to come here because they're comfortable and they know us and mm-hmm. Everybody has a good time and, you know, we've added stuff to it, like the music and things, which has made it really fun. Mm-hmm. we were talking earlier, Andrea and I just, when we can get all of as many clinic families together at once, it's just cool to see. In the flash, how many families we have, like we see it on the spreadsheet and you know, every hour it's a new family. But to see all of them come together for. Those events is just, I don't know. It's really cool. Yeah. Yeah. It brings out the aspect of like community. Yes. And the fact that we have a lot of families that know each other, but don't even know that they've been attending the same clinic for a year or so. Yes, so's. It's really cool to see people make those connections and make new friends and set up play dates. That I gonna say that to you. Yeah. That's one of my favorite things about the lobby is when all of a sudden parents are setting up play dates with the other kids from the same hour. Yes. That's really cool to see. That's cool. we do appreciate that you do a lot of the support work, for our field trips and things like that. And especially during the summertime when we organize field trips, so it's like someone has to be there first to make sure that. Know, they, we know who's coming and then everybody gets their ticket or whoever. And that, that's been really helpful to have a go-to person like that. Mm-hmm. Yeah, and it's nice because everyone recognizes us pretty much. They see us all the time upfront. so it's nice to have a face to look for and you know everybody. And we do know everybody. That was one of the things that I was most nervous about when I started here was checking people in. I didn't realize how quickly I was gonna be able to pick up everyone's names. Yeah. And it's cool. Yeah. it's crazy that you can just learn all of these people. Mm-hmm. And you know their names, siblings, names, parents. You are very good at that. Sibling names for sure. It's a lot. Yeah. And I feel like that gets overlooked too. Yeah. Yeah. Cool. so Emily, we'll ask you first, what is your favorite go-to activity or toy that you're like, I'm bringing it up for childcare. Um, my favorite activity, I already talked about it, is hide and seek just because. Mm-hmm. You know, you can pretend to look around for somebody for a while and they think it's so funny. So I'll be like, Hmm, I don't know where Lucy is. And then all of a sudden Lucy will be like, I'm over here. And I'm like, well that's not, not the game we're playing, but thank you. Yeah. So I feel like it's just good for all ages. That's like my first like go-to, especially if we have different ages. Yes. That's a good bridge in order to connect those age gaps. Yes. Yeah. How about you, Andrea? My favorite is bubbles. I feel like that is something that, you know, if I, I, if I have a new childcare, um mm-hmm. If I have a new sibling for childcare. That's one of the first things I grab because who doesn't love bubbles? Yeah. And and that again is all ages. Yes. Like even some of the older kids. Yeah. Some of the older kids will like to blow the bubbles for the younger kids to pop and Oh, that's sweet. Yeah. It's, it's really fun to see the older siblings also trying to help with the younger sibling, even if they're not from the same family. Yeah. Mm-hmm. They just take on that little helper role and want to entertain sometimes, which is, it's really fun to see. Are there any toys that you. Really are like, no, don't take that out, please. Yes, anything where there's just one. Item. Mm-hmm. When it becomes a sharing game, that can be really tricky. Oh, sure. Because if an, if a toy is pretty special mm-hmm. That's gonna be nearly impossible to share for anyone. Yeah. So we have like a walking dog toy that is pretty cool in the waiting room, but it rarely sees the light of day. Yeah. So not because the toy itself, but just because it's an issue with sharing. Yeah. They wanna. Piece of the doggy. Yeah. Um, mine, and I don't really, I think I pulled this once and didn't again, never again. And I don't know if you have but the soggy doggy game. Yes. 'cause they were older and I was like, this is gonna be great. Holy cow. There was water everywhere. And then I would be like, one more time. And then I just kept filling it up 'cause Oh, I love soggy dogs. You know, they were, they love it. They were occupied. And I was like. Whatever. But then you woke up and 40 minutes later and went, oh no. Yeah, it's a lot of water. I need to change my favorite story. My favorite story about the waiting room is before both of your times, and it used to be that therapists had to change the waiting room toys once month. Mm-hmm. And so a therapist just decided as a joke to freak out the the receptionist. Oh, no. And put out. 10 drums, three shakers? No, the symbols. Oh. And just kind of left them out on the table and she's like, is this gonna be great? And then, and she just waited and didn't say anything until there ception. She's like, um, and this is in our old clinic when our waiting room was. Like three times as small. Yeah. And so she's just like, waited until finally like the, she's like, um, excuse me. Um, maybe we shouldn't, maybe, um, maybe we could think of an alternative. And she's just like, I just wanted to see how long it take you. And she took it down and put out puzzles and it was like, yeah. Yeah. We have a couple of like interactive books that will sing songs mm-hmm. And stuff. And those can get old pretty quickly when you're hearing them. Yeah. And all of a sudden you'll start humming them for nowhere and you're like, man, get outta my head. Got me again. Okay. So that's a lot of cool stuff about what you do here. What are some other things that you do outside of the clinic that people might not know One of my favorite stories about Emily that might, maybe not everyone knows. Oh, I have two now. So one is during your interview, like I think everyone remembers your interview because we started talking books. Mm-hmm. And you, you're an avid reader. Mm-hmm. And you were reading The Miracle Morning. Yes. And so you were getting up early mm-hmm. Every day. And you had this routine. Yeah. And I remember after your interview like. You know, we're still, we still weren't sure who we were gonna hire, but I'm like, I kind of just wanna call her and like ask her more questions about her books. Yeah. Yes. That was a very good time in my life when I made the time to do those things. But I think in doing that, which for most of you that don't know about the Miracle Morning, it's, you get at like an hour before you normally would, and you put time aside for like, um, reading, writing. Exercising meditation and I don't know what the last one is. I don't remember. But I think in doing that, because I was doing it regularly, that is when I think it also clicked in me that like there's something better out there suited for me and will make me feel A more fulfilled, more fulfill, thank you. Yeah. Yes. More fulfilled. Oh, that's interesting. Yeah. So I think in doing that, 'cause you know when you're just sitting with your own self. Yeah, yeah. You gotta figure it out. One of the things that I, I don't know if everybody knows, is that you are a grandma's marathon, half marathon completist. Oh wow. That right? Good in. A weak moment. No, I'm just kidding. Um, yes, I did last year run grandma's half marathon. I will never run again. I walk everywhere now. running's just not for me, but I did it. And you did it. You tried it? Yes. Mm-hmm. And that's crazy 'cause. I'm not a runner, but mm-hmm. I remember her signing up and I think I was maybe one of the first people at work that you told. Yeah. And she's like, I don't wanna tell anyone just in case I can't do it. But she did it. I was like, just in case I drop out. You never know. It was cool to see your journey. Yeah, it was. Yeah, I learned a lot about myself, during it, and I'll never do that again. You learned your lesson. I learned my lesson. Um, what's a fun Andrea fact? Oh boy. I dunno. Sometimes I feel like I'm the most boring person ever I think of. So when I think of a fun Andrea fact, I always like, one of the first things I noticed about you was your nails. Like you always have beautiful nails and hair. Thank you. And hair and style and style. Well just keep it coming. So, and that's a whole area that you're really interested in. I know I do a lot. Yeah. So tell us more about that. Yeah, so through college, I. I decided to switch my program so I could finish in three years instead of four years, which kind of opened up the opportunity and a want for me to go to cosmetology school. That was a whole nother thought in my head. But then I found you guys, and you guys are so wonderful. How could I leave? Like, you all need help. You're like, thank God they found me. They really need me. It, it's something that I would love to pursue in a different. Lifetime if I never found this place to work. I, I tell people that all the time, like, how could I leave a place that I love so much? And I look forward to being around everyone. And it's like a family here, honestly. And I've, I've really felt that even within the two years that I've been here. So I do some things on the side. I've done some hair and makeup for some weddings for friends that I know. But yeah, it's kind of a little different secret life that I have. Yeah. And it's inspiring, but also I'm a jeans and a black shirt person, and every day when I come in and Andrea comes in, I'm just like, oh gosh, she looks good. I really need to change what I'm doing. Yeah. One of my. Inspirations and goals is to become a Miss Honey. Like from Matilda. Cute. Oh yeah. Yes. Like the sweetest little ray of sunshine for people that need them. Well, you are already, thank you. So you're on your way. So I feel like, you know, the cute, really cute outfit and cute. Yeah. All of that just brings a whole nother vibe. Mm-hmm. I want people to feel. Welcomed and it's fun to play around too with bright colors, being at a children's clinic and mm-hmm. Doing fun things with your hair or we even had like, what a wacky day? Mm-hmm. One day and just to do fun things with your hair. And I know Serena had like a rainbow. Yeah. Rainbows out of pipe cleaners in her hair. Yeah. That was for childhood apraxia Awareness week. Yes, yes. Yeah. So we had a different thing every day. So we had wacky hair day and we had a sports jersey day and we had wacky. Mm-hmm. With socks. Socks. And we've done also done that for, for Down syndrome Awareness day. Yeah. Yeah. So yeah. So be getting able to participate in that as, as a whole staff can be kind of fun. Even if we have to like rush down really quick for our lunch break and be like, we gotta get a picture. That is usually what goes. Yeah. Another thing about the hair and makeup too, and nails, whatever is, I feel like. I am very observant when it comes to things like that. Mm-hmm. I'm one of the first people to notice when someone's got a haircut out in the lobby, and I will comment right away and sometimes that's cool. They're like, no one has, no one's noticed yet. Yeah. So I like being involved in that too. Yeah. Talking with parents about it. Mm-hmm. Yeah. You just know how to make people feel good about themselves. Mm-hmm. Thank you. I agree. Mm-hmm. It's a lot of good things about people and it's nice to share that with them. Yeah. Yeah. I love. That was really sweet. I do have, I have a story. Can I share a story? Yeah, please do. So. A couple years ago, my boyfriend and I adopted this cat that we did not know at the time, was pregnant with kittens, and so we went through this whole journey. It was an experience, and when I was working at the clinic at the time, I think I was working on Fridays and we had a client and her mom coming in every Friday. One time they were just like, oh, how was your weekend? And I just developed this relationship with them. And we were chatting about the cats and everything, and I would be showing the client photos and all this stuff. And she was like, oh, I really want a cat. And her dad was like, no, no cat. No cat. And then he found a letter in her backpack asking for the cat for Christmas. And so he said, yes and. She had to wait 'cause the cats weren't quite ready yet. And I brought all of the kittens to the clinic for her to look at and pick one out. And then the mom didn't tell her that they were taking it home that day. So then they took her home that day and. Then they would send me updates and things and it was just so cool. That's so sweet. I'm still mad that I wasn't around at the time with the kittens. Mm-hmm. So anyway, fun story. That's a great story story. That's so sweet of you to do that. It was really cool. Yeah. And you love your animals, you also have a dog? I do. I have one dog named Klondike who we adopted when he was four, and then I have two kitties, the our Mama Kitty and then we kept one of her kids. His name is Mittens and he is a troublemaker and she is the sweetest cat alive, but I am a crazy cat lady. We. Have a cat room in our house. That's their bedroom. I have a couple cat carriers. Love that. We like to put our cats on leashes. So anyway, yeah. Something that we can bond over. Yes, you have. Yeah. Yes. I do have a cat. Mm-hmm. She is almost two years old now. Her name's Tilly. So we'll like to, we like to share pictures and I actually have a, a kiddo in childcare that. We will just look at pictures of my cat and we'll talk about our cats together. Yesterday we, um, printed out a piece of paper, a coloring page of a cat, and we both colored our cats. Oh my gosh. Coloring. What a smart idea. Yeah. Smart. Yeah. It's fun to tell the kids about that. Yeah. Like they'll bring in their stuffed animals and say, I have a pet at my house. It's always fun to hear. Yeah. Fun. Yeah. Well, We could sit and talk here all day. But we have kids coming back in the afternoon. Yeah. Things to do. People to see. So thank you both for coming and sharing your stories and your time with us. Thank you. Thanks for having us and thanks for all you do. Thanks. Seriously, thank you for all your hard work. you are just invaluable to the clinic. Thank you. We appreciate that. Thank you. We do. And I feel like we, we can feel that from Yeah, I agree. From clients from. Our coworkers. Mm-hmm. Everyone, we, it's just such a great welcoming Yeah. And lovely environment. Yeah. I agree. It's so cool to be a part of it. We are glad that you're a part of it. Yes, we are too. Thanks everyone. Thanks. That wraps up this episode of Hear Me Out. Thanks so much for listening. Be sure to subscribe, share the podcast with others, and join us next time as we continue learning from the professionals, parents and donors who make this work possible and celebrate the amazing kids we serve. To learn more about the Masonic Children's Clinic or to support our mission of providing free speech, language and hearing services, visit our website and consider making a donation. Every gift helps us give children the voice. They deserve. Visit us@masonicchildrensclinic.org.