Sunday, August 14, 2011

The Purest Trust (GBE#13--Topic: Trust)

During the week, I work and parent.  But on the weekends....it's all about school.

Every Friday night, I have actual class.  On Saturday and Sunday, I'm up at 5:30am so I can make it to clinical for the 7am-3pm shift.

So far, it's been a pretty enjoyable experience.  It's a ton of hard work, for sure, but it's a great learning experience and I've had the opportunity to see a variety of healthcare settings.

For the past two weeks, I've been 'working' in a long term care facility for children.  It's just about the most heartbreaking thing I've ever had to do.

When I saw this week's topic was trust, children (and my experiences in clinical) were the first thing to come to mind.

How easily children trust and how easily that trust can be obliterated.

Children trust their parents to take care of them.  And yet, one moment in time can completely change who somebody is and what they need--right down to the very core. 

Acts of violence.

Acts of neglect.

They can take a once vibrant and active individual and render them helpless--completely dependent on someone else for their care...forever.

Even the simple act of loving your child.  Something that should come naturally...unconditionally.  And yet, for some children....the only family they know is the staff assigned to care for them.

I find this often in my line of work....adults whose families walked away a lifetime ago...never to see their children again.  Is it because the child's care needs are too daunting?  Is it because the child isn't "normal"?

My heart says it's wrong no matter what the reason is.

I'm not a perfect mother.  I make dozens of mistakes every day.

But I love them and will always be here to care for them--as long as I'm needed, I will be here.

I will never intentionally hurt them or turn my back on them.

They can trust me on that.

I wish every child could say the same.





17 comments:

  1. What a heart blog this was Steph. I'm so proud of you, I haven't told you that lately, but I sure am. I was here when you started on this endeavor, look how far you've come! Yes children are one of our greatest gifts. They are too often overlooked, mistreated and they do trust, so innocently and unconditionally. If only we adults to convert back to that basic trust in a child. Wouldn't the world be such an amazing place to exist in? Wonderful post. Keep going..I'm in your corner pulling for you all the way!

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  2. Children's trust is amazing, they are so pure!

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  3. You are a sugarplum. :O)

    I so agree with you--imperfect, but heartfelt and involved parenting seems like a given. Sadly, it's not always the case. It must be so hard to see what you see and not just weep.

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  4. I can only say...thank you for being one they can count on. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I agree with every word.

    ((hugs))

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  5. My mom gave birth to two children with birth defects - my sibling and I. I know it was hard on her--it wasn't exactly in her life plan, I'm sure--but she always loved us. Always.

    Don't acts of violence and acts of neglect boil down to the same thing - lack of love? :)

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  6. My own childhood was very rocky and I'm doing my best to make sure my own daughter's childhood is as far away from what I had to go through as a kid.

    I'm always there for my kid as well.

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  7. A child SHOULD be able to trust the adults and particularly their parents. Sadly, we all know that isn't true in every case. I worked in a facility for the profoundly mentally handicapped many years ago. It saddened me that the bio family was long gone and all these kids knew were the staff. They stole my heart!

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  8. How terribly sad!! Wonderful blog highlighting a problem that is probably seen more than it should be.

    Kathy
    http://www.thetruckerswife.com/index.html

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  9. @Taina Thank you SO MUCH for the heartfelt comment! It really made my day :)

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  10. @humor Thanks! I'm glad that you enjoyed it

    @ Claudia I agree 100%

    @Jo Thank you. The nurses and other staff whose job it is to take care of children in need like this are amazing. I don't know how they do it day in and day out.

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  11. @Beth I thought it was difficult taking care of disabled adults. But this experience with the children broke my heart. I don't know if it is something I could do every day once I become a nurse.

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  12. @Jay You are so right. It really Does boil down to a lack of love. No child should ever have to know what that feels like.

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  13. @kate Your child is lucky to have such a good mom!

    @Darlene What you described was exactly how it is. I can't wrap my head around parents abandoning their children this way.

    @Kathy Thank you. I think the few times I've witnessed it was a few times more than this should have ever happened...to anyone.

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  14. I wish every child could say the same, too. This is fantastic!

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  15. Like you...I'm a parent who isn't exactly perfect--but I am here for my kids. I love them and they know this. I can't imagine what it must be like for those children whose families just walk away--and how they must feel. I even have a special needs child, I could never fathom just leaving any of my children to someone else's care. Heartbreaking.

    Thanks for this wonderful post on Trust--a great reminder that it isn't always an even playing field.

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  16. I am so glad you brought children into this week's theme of trust. I almost went with that thought, but felt I would've needed weeks of preparation...so near and dear to my heart. Like a very young child willing to jump into their mother or father's arms into a pool. They trust they will be caught. Just beautiful!

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