Thank you to the pediatrician who refused to treat or examine
Lucy for any mental health issues because she was “too young” "just a typical two-year-old" "will grow out of it". Thank you for
handing me a list of child therapist, psychologist, and psychiatrist who also
refused to meet with a child as young as Lucy (she was three at the time). We
figured it out on our own.
Thank you to the first play therapist, who called me
back, who was more than happy to meet with my little three year old. Who got
down on the floor and played in the sand with her, who would get out the toy
dinosaurs every time, who would ask Lucy about her drawings on the white board.
Thank you for working with her on her separation anxiety and telling me “Lucy
needs to be in a more structured environment for her education, the current one
is not a good fit for her”.
Thank you to the administrative assistant at the early
childhood center who fueled my calls and concerns once I tried to register Lucy
far after the deadline. Thank you for putting us on the wait-list and accepting
all my paperwork late. Thank you for suggesting we look at the other building
because there was less of a wait. Thank you for being patient with me when I
cried when you called to tell me she had finally been accepted to the
program.
Thank you to Mrs. Lemkemann, there are not enough words in
the English language to explain how much this teacher has done for Lucy, our
family, and our sanity. She is truly in the right profession to be working with
the young people of this world. She has provided so many interventions and
supports for Lucy. She loves Lucy with all her heart and we love Mrs. Lemkemann
with all of ours. Thank you for taking me seriously when I asked about getting
Lucy on and IEP, thank you for being so straight-forward with us about her
needs. Thank you for hugging Lucy, thank you for demanding more from Lucy,
thank you for working with her, teaching her to know her body and mind better,
thank you for being the most amazing asset for Lucy to date.
Thank you to Mrs. Taylor for being Lucy’s nap buddy; providing
stories and back rubs to calm her down. Thank you for doing joint compressions for her while she tried so hard to connect her mind and body and calm herself.
Thank you for your gentle approach with Lucy, your soft voice, and kind heart.
Thank you to all the occupational therapist who worked with
me and Lucy to teach us techniques so Lucy could regulate herself and restore
her mind and body. Thank you for pushing her on the swings and piling pillows
on top of her, and teaching her to blow bubbles with her straw.
Thank you to the strangers on the street who tries to talk to
Lucy and gets her common grunt, run and hide, or screaming response. You let
me know Lucy needs to be treated a little more gentle than the typical child,
you let me know Lucy needs to whole-heartedly know someone before she will
trust you, you let me know Lucy still needs me because I’m her mom and I know
how to handle her grunts and scream.
Thank you to the friends and family members who are
respectful of Lucy’s differences. Thank you for listening to us and
understanding when we say things like “please don’t talk or look at her right
now”. Thank you for not taking it personally and just knowing it’s who Lucy is.
Thank you to the people who said we need to discipline and
spank her more, we tried that, it didn’t work.
Thank you to the online mom’s group who suggested a child psychiatrist when we were on our last straw with interventions and therapies
and needed to discuss medication.
Thank you to Dr. Park, child psychiatrist, for listening to me, being
knowledgeable of a young child’s mental health needs. Thank you for understanding
I had come to you seeking medication for Lucy as a last ditch effort to help
her. Thank you for your philosophy of “little medical intervention as possible,
so these young people can still thrive”. Thank you for suggesting behavioral
therapy along with medication.
Thank you to Dr. Hampton, behavioral psychologist, for
sticking with us even though Lucy was horrid, rude, and hateful to you at our
first three visits. Thank you for understanding how to build trust with someone
like Lucy. Thank you for reassuring me I was doing a good job as a mom.
Thank you Lucy.
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