Do you ever feel like you’re tired all the time? Do you ever wake up and start planning when you can take a nap? Do you ever wonder if other people feel as tired as you do? For me I can answer all three questions with a resounding “YES!” And yet when I scan through my newsfeeds on social media it seems like every other person is posting a meme or a gif about the exact same thing. So maybe we’re not alone.
I am a full-time social worker, a full-time mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, and a friend, just to name a few. With all those things is it a wonder I would say yes to these questions? Probably not. And since I had maybe one Tuesday a year free it made complete sense that I should fill it up with going back to school, right? I thought so, which is why I decided to enroll as a part time doctoral student through SUNY Buffalo School of Social Work.
I know what you’re thinking, “She’s crazy.” “When do you plan on sleeping?” “Why would you do that to yourself?” I’m not crazy (I don’t think), sleep’s over-rated, and let me explain why………when I was 5 years old my dolls and animals had medical records. Every year when I got my physical, I gave them their physicals. I updated their charts, gave them a sticker, and sent them on their way. For 13 years I would insist I was going to be a pediatrician when I grew up. I was going to make the sick well, the broken fixed and the healthy healthier. Then there was organic chemistry and a year of soul searching. I found myself on the path to becoming a social worker. My poor mother, “What will I tell everyone? I told them you were going to be a doctor!” My answer was simple. “When a child gets abused, they may have a broken bone or a bruise that the doctor might cast or bandage, but the injury left from that abuse is so much deeper and not so easily fixed. I’m going to fix that.” Pretty profound for a 19-year-old. And also, unknowingly prophetic.
Years later I find myself working at an inpatient hospital with children who have severe early childhood trauma. I find myself educating parents, foster parents, teachers, and direct care staff on the significant effects of this abuse- from behavior, to brain structure, all the way down to the basic genetic makeup of a child. And I find myself shocked at times how little education is provided to those charged with caring for, supporting, and raising these children. So came the inspiration for this blog. To offer a place where people can be educated, share resources, and begin new discussions about trauma, children, and the impact trauma has on the micro, mezzo and macro levels.
This is just the beginning of what I hope will be an exciting and fulfilling journey. I am hoping to both share and learn from others, to foster important interesting discussions, and offer support. As I start down this path, I wonder what type of information do people wish they were given to prepare for their role as caretaker or teacher? What questions do you have about the impact of early childhood trauma from the gene level to organic development? What types of resources would be helpful to you for supporting and planning for these youth? How can I help?
Catherine's Field of Ideas 