When a parent could take no more, finally understood they could not “fix” their child, and knew their child needed more help than the parent alone could give, they placed their child into special needs residential care. And each time they walked or drove away they wept.
But over time, on seeing the dedication of the staff, they said:
Blessed are the care workers, who leave their families on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Bank Holidays to care for our children.
Blessed are they who see a disabled child in distress and, instead of turning away as so many have done before, instead wade right into the middle of the situation.
Blessed are they who are hit, bitten, scratched and bruised for the compassion they demonstrate.
Blessed are they who are trained how to support…and restrain…children who have completely lost control.
Blessed are they who, once the dysregulated child is calm once more, intentionally seek to repair the relationship.
Blessed are they who log the incident, reflect on it with management and wonder how they can de-escalate things sooner next time, knowing there will always be a next time.
Blessed are they who ring the parents to say, “Your child had an incident today…but they’re ok now. We’ve kept them safe.”
Blessed are they who, when parents thank them through their tears, saying: “I’ve never had this support before. I’ve always been alone with it, but I’m not alone anymore,” simply reply, “That’s what we’re here for. Are you ok?”
Blessed are they who, despite being parents themselves, know and say that their form of parenting is so, so much easier than ours – because they know the difference.
Blessed are they who, when parents are crucifying themselves with guilt for putting their children into residential care, respond with: “There is only one of you and there’s a whole team of us. Is it any wonder you couldn’t cope?”
Blessed are they who, in times of calm, take our children to places that we never could have managed on our own, because all children still need to have those precious, enriching experiences that are part of childhood.
Blessed are they who know how hard this life is but choose to walk into it every single day, because they know their work has value…and they also know that at the end of their shift, they can walk away and rest.
Blessed are they who are not paid nearly enough for the work that they do, who are often referred to as “just carers” and blessed are they do it anyway.
Life In Holland 