Head.Shoulders.Knees.Toes.
I come to you all today, fresh from urgent care. No alarm! Just some massive mouth sores/blisters that are hindering my eating, talking, and well, day-to-day life. Good news: nothing serious, just something I ate, or allergy, or irritated. And thankfully was given something to relieve the pain enough to nourish myself, and sit down and write a little…
My mouth frustration has had me thinking (since talking has been very rare). I been pondering a few things that I would like to share and ponder with you today.
I’ve been told that I have the gift of translating for “new talkers” aka understanding toddlers conversations. Enjoying the company of children is very fun and rewarding gift! My curiosity and thirst for learning has always had a bent toward child development, how God has woven us together, and what is needed for children to thrive. It’s led me to many jobs in childcare. To having intentional retail products with my business. And along the way, I’ve read books, textbooks, taken online classes and webinars. I am in awe of how simple, but even more crucial it is to meet the needs of our smallest littles. Yet so many littles are lacking a consistent caregiver. A caregiver that is on a daily basis meeting their very basic needs. Letting them know they are Loved, Seen, and Known. 📚 If you have the same curiosity, I recommend, “The Irreducible Needs of Children: What Every Child Must Have to Grow, Learn, and Flourish” by T. Berry Brazelton, MD and Stanley I. Greenspan. Let me make this clear: I don’t agree 100% with any book except the Bible! But I do have some “life” books, that have been eye-openers and life-altering. This is one of those books. I read this book in my adoption waiting. It is not an easy read! I highly respect these two doctors, and have read other books by them too. 📚
Have you ever cared for a child with an ear infection? Or a virus like Hand, Foot, Mouth? Have you seen the size of these blisters in their mouth and down their throats? OUCH! Or a child that just does. not. feel. good.? Infant? Non-verbal?
Experiencing these moments can be frustrating, when we are all the sudden trying to figure out what is going on. I have had first hand experience. Infants and children. When you are this little, you are going on what you know, and you have only been around to learn the basics. And when infants and children sense something is not right, and they know their caregiver is close by, they are wired to “alarm.” And when they alarm, they want their primary caregiver to come and soothe them, not to become irritated. This can be challenging, I know. But keep in mind this is how we are ALL wired! I will admit I cried on a regular basis with my little one, when she cried because her tummy hurt and I couldn’t do anything but hold her, Mommy definitely cried too! I still cry when I think about those days!
As an adult, I have experienced more ear infections than I did as a kid. I’ve had mouth blisters, but nothing like I have this week. Actually, the blisters I have now, remind me of the heart dropping blisters my niece had when she was teeny tiny. The ear infections always remind me of being on FaceTime after my nephew got tubes in his ears. My brother was going through Chick-fil-a and they came over the speaker for the order, and it was like all the sudden the poor little guy could hear clearly, and it must have seemed like a huge blast of sound! He burst into tears! It’s so good that we don’t remember these childhood days as adults… or is it?
Maybe if we could remember a little bit of these days, as adults we may become more patient, compassionate… or simply remember, we were once babies in need of needs to be met… and as adults, we still have needs, it only looks different… and sometimes we ourselves need to “alarm,” and cry out!
And then I think about children and adults that are non-verbal…
Which takes me to one of my niece’s end of school projects on the book, “Out of my Mind,” by Sharon Draper. (Also a “life” book! Reading the sequel now, and it is also awesome!) Her class all read it and actually did some really cool assignments. But Lilly’s final project (different ways of communicating) was about sign language (above picture, she is signing “learning”). Just because someone is non-verbal, doesn’t mean there isn’t valuable treasure lying just inside! It only takes one person to take a look… you may find a whole dictionary of words… musical orchestra… the next Picasso or Monet or Van Gogh!
My desire today is to simply encourage you to see:
- Every life matters
- Every life has irreducible needs – NO MATTER physical, mental, emotional, spiritual “capable” the world defines it
- We are not in control, we do not determine anyone’s full capability! ONLY Our Creator, who has created us in His image, for His glory.
- We must trust Our Creator to guide us and open our eyes to EVERYONE’S gifts, NO MATTER WHAT!!
Did you let someone know today that they are Seen. Heard. Known. Loved. today?
