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.