I no longer remember the names of the families I am supposed to help

Dear Delyara, I am a child-protection social worker with forty-eight open cases. I used to know every child’s teacher, favorite food, and the name of the relative who made them feel safe. Now I read the file outside each home because details blur together. Last week, I called one mother by another client’s name. She noticed. I apologized, but the look on her face said exactly what she thought: her family’s crisis was only one item in my overloaded bag. She was right. I work evenings, weekends, and through lunch. Management sends emails about self-care while assigning new cases before old ones close. Yesterday, a child drew me a picture and asked me not to lose it. I placed it carefully inside the wrong file. I found the mistake later and sat in my car crying. Burnout in this work is dangerous because children do not need professionals who are merely present. They need to be remembered accurately. I entered this field believing attention could protect people. I am becoming someone who may overlook the detail that matters because there are too many lives asking not to be confused.