I live in a small town. Recently I was at a smoke shop to pick up a bottle of CBD oil for my son, Kai, who is seven years old and has eight different special needs diagnoses. The woman who was behind the counter was a friendly, chatty, helpful type and we got to talking. She used to work at my son’s school, which is an all special needs campus. I was excited to hear this because I really love Kai’s school. When I asked her what her position there had been, she said, “Oh, I was just an aide.”
I immediately called her out on it. JUST AN AIDE? As if it is a small, insignificant thing to work with special needs kids, every single day as an assistant. Why doesn’t she know that she is SUPER IMPORTANT in my son’s world and the world of all students, special needs or typical? That her just showing up means my son has extra support, the classroom has extra support, and the school runs more smoothly and better because she is there? Why doesn’t she know that there is nothing more significant to a special needs parent than to know that sensitive, loving staff members, title not important, mean that my son has an awesome day and his mom and dad can relax a bit, knowing he will be loved and cared for?
This woman said that she wished that the director at the time (who has since retired, so we’ve never met) had told her this. That she felt inept. Out of her league. Unimportant. Unnoticed and unsupported.
Let me tell you something. As a former teacher in general education of fifteen years, the aides and support staff are the people who make the world go round. Without good people in place, the whole thing will fall apart. The jobs are necessary and important. And the people who hold them are some of the hardest working people I’ve ever met. They are also not paid nearly what they are worth.
Please tell these people that you appreciate them. Thank them every time you see them. They deserve so much more but recognition is a nice start.
Now, think about this. Do you do this as well? Do you describe yourself as “just a special needs parent?” Or maybe, “Just a stay at home Mom/Dad?” Do you use the word JUST to describe yourself?
If no one has told you lately, what you do is important and you are noticed by those around you. Just because they don’t tell you so doesn’t mean that it’s not true. So, please, know your value. Know your worth. Whatever it is that you do, dream, plan, are, don’t describe yourself as “just a…” anything. You are SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
Want more? I have released a book! It is written especially for you to uplift you as a caregiver, soothe you, help you navigate and, most importantly, help you to be OK. Take a look!