But also, I feel it important to mention how much confidence it gives me as well. Coming back to the MPRC after two weeks of being on the farm was really quite refreshing. "It feels like you've been gone for a month!" one girl said. It really made me feel like my presence makes a difference, which is really nice.
Also, I asked if I could work with Lila (I'm changing her name here for safe sakes...) Often when I sit beside Lila, people tell me to be careful, since she can sometimes be a little unpredictable, she likes to squeeze and sometimes even bite. It has actually happened where she bit me, but that was a time when it honestly had nothing to do with me. She just didn't want to leave! And it wasn't bad anyway. Another day, I sat between her and another participant at the MPRC and she knocked me with her head while the other woman pulled my hair. I could only really laugh even if it hurt, they weren't angry or intentionally hurting me so I didn't get frustrated.
So back to Lila. She usually likes to sit on the couch and read her Sears catalogues. She doesn't usually say much, but when you spend one-on-one time with her, sometimes you can get her to talk. She has begun to take a liking to holding my hand and sometimes she puts it on her back as if to say "can you rub my back?" This week, though, she was a lot more gentle with me. Progress? And she always acknowledges me when I sit beside her.
Tuesday, I made a dream catcher with her, and she loved it! She has a native background so anything to do with native crafts, she just loves! She was smiling the whole time we were making it and at one point I said "Lila, do you like this?" She put on a huge grin, and clapped. A few moment later, she put her arm around me ever-so-gently and put her head on my shoulder. I couldn't help but to smile and hug her back. Later, I was eating with her and in the middle of eating her food, she screamed "Good Day!"
When you get a response like this, especially from someone who doesn't normally say much, it's so rewarding. My job is to make her day better and I felt like I did just that and more with such an enthusiastic response.
:)
So back to Lila. She usually likes to sit on the couch and read her Sears catalogues. She doesn't usually say much, but when you spend one-on-one time with her, sometimes you can get her to talk. She has begun to take a liking to holding my hand and sometimes she puts it on her back as if to say "can you rub my back?" This week, though, she was a lot more gentle with me. Progress? And she always acknowledges me when I sit beside her.
Tuesday, I made a dream catcher with her, and she loved it! She has a native background so anything to do with native crafts, she just loves! She was smiling the whole time we were making it and at one point I said "Lila, do you like this?" She put on a huge grin, and clapped. A few moment later, she put her arm around me ever-so-gently and put her head on my shoulder. I couldn't help but to smile and hug her back. Later, I was eating with her and in the middle of eating her food, she screamed "Good Day!"
When you get a response like this, especially from someone who doesn't normally say much, it's so rewarding. My job is to make her day better and I felt like I did just that and more with such an enthusiastic response.
:)
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