"One more thing," the patient says, right when I'm about to exit the exam room.
I used to be annoyed by it. Until one day, a patient's "one more thing" was actually "the" thing she wanted to say. But she needed to feel me out and make sure I was a safe person first. So, I sat back down and listened. Then we discussed and ran tests.
"You restored my faith in doctors." She took the bus just to tell me this today after making a full recovery. Her visit filled my heart with warmth and purpose.
If we ask people to wait for months for their appointments, then (sometimes) hours in our offices, we can hear them out for their one more thing.
I spilled a chocolate shake on the bathroom rug. The kids think it’s cat poop and have refused to enter my bathroom. I’m on day 5 of peaceful bathtime, alone. I may never pick that rug up. Follow me for more parenting tips.