Another work with and within a family just came to an end.
The widowed and single mother that I had supported in running a household and caring for the two adult children with extensive cognitive disabilities living at home, had to leave to be with an ailing relative.
During my time with this family I had the opportunity to experience what will be a lot of great memories:
singing along with her daughter to an Elvis Presley video I got for her on the tablet I use for guiding and communicating with those who learn and communicate in "alternate" ways,
engaging two granddaughters visiting in how to make a bowl of cereals "just right" and singing Old McDonald,
customizing and explaining features of a new smartphone, and having extensive exchanges with a pest exterminator who had done a poor job serving the family.
Good memories and the best of references.
Still...
I have never been fired from a work with a family.
I have almost in every case had positive relations with every family member, and earned the trust to both do more and be more than what first my tasks were described as being.
I have always left families richer in beautiful memories and a sense of having met good people, and having being well treated and valued.
This has a downside, however.
I have never had a job with people end in a planned way and at a predicted point in time.
Whether due to military related relocation or relocation due to sudden events such as something happening to a member of the extended family elsewhere, or an unforeseen expenditure depriving a family of ability to afford assistance; it has been abrupt and painful because of the bonds established.
And I always do establish bonds; working with individuals who communicate their needs in atypical ways, I must both establish trust and gradually "feel" my way to an understanding of the person's needs and his or her unique preferences. At times a "language" and a rhythm that is unique to the relationship between me and the person in question evolves that allows me to be responsive.
That makes it that much more of a loss when that relationship suddenly is ended.
Yet, in spite of this; in spite of what I do both having so many titles and yet the practical reality of it remaining so difficult to define; even if I have had to clean excrement of beds and bodies, and expect to do so again, been hit in temper tantrums; although I have cleaned more floors and exterminated bugs more often than I can count; this is what I want to do.
The widowed and single mother that I had supported in running a household and caring for the two adult children with extensive cognitive disabilities living at home, had to leave to be with an ailing relative.
During my time with this family I had the opportunity to experience what will be a lot of great memories:
singing along with her daughter to an Elvis Presley video I got for her on the tablet I use for guiding and communicating with those who learn and communicate in "alternate" ways,
engaging two granddaughters visiting in how to make a bowl of cereals "just right" and singing Old McDonald,
customizing and explaining features of a new smartphone, and having extensive exchanges with a pest exterminator who had done a poor job serving the family.
Good memories and the best of references.
Still...
I have never been fired from a work with a family.
I have almost in every case had positive relations with every family member, and earned the trust to both do more and be more than what first my tasks were described as being.
I have always left families richer in beautiful memories and a sense of having met good people, and having being well treated and valued.
This has a downside, however.
I have never had a job with people end in a planned way and at a predicted point in time.
Whether due to military related relocation or relocation due to sudden events such as something happening to a member of the extended family elsewhere, or an unforeseen expenditure depriving a family of ability to afford assistance; it has been abrupt and painful because of the bonds established.
And I always do establish bonds; working with individuals who communicate their needs in atypical ways, I must both establish trust and gradually "feel" my way to an understanding of the person's needs and his or her unique preferences. At times a "language" and a rhythm that is unique to the relationship between me and the person in question evolves that allows me to be responsive.
That makes it that much more of a loss when that relationship suddenly is ended.
Yet, in spite of this; in spite of what I do both having so many titles and yet the practical reality of it remaining so difficult to define; even if I have had to clean excrement of beds and bodies, and expect to do so again, been hit in temper tantrums; although I have cleaned more floors and exterminated bugs more often than I can count; this is what I want to do.