After 8 hours in an ER recently, I couldn't stop thinking about our nurse, Lisa.
After 8 hours in an ER recently, I couldn't stop thinking about our nurse, Lisa.
Not because of the medical outcome - though thank goodness my kiddo is okay - but because of how she showed up.
Like any parent, I care deeply about my kid getting kind, respectful medical care. And in recent years, I've watched too many practitioners fail at the basics: not talking to her directly, not meeting her eye, not asking permission before touching her.
What are we teaching kids about body autonomy if doctors don't even ask before they touch? āļø
Lisa did all the things I consider table stakes: she talked to my kid directly, met her eye, asked permission before touching.
But Lisa went further.
She explained everything before she did it. She asked permission before every single touch. She explained why things mattered for health and safety in ways my scared kid could actually understand.
And when my kid pushed back, got frustrated, even cursed? Lisa met it with good humor, care, and her own perfect balance of sass. š
She didn't rush. She didn't talk over my kid. She didn't treat fear as an inconvenience.
She treated my kid like a whole person who deserved respect, information, and agency - even in a moment when my kid was scared and we desperately needed her cooperation.
That night, I wrote Lisa a note. I told her that her care was special on its own, but against the backdrop of recent awful interactions, it was a reminder of what true healthcare can look like.
This is what it means to meet people where they are. To slow down when everything in you wants to rush. To earn trust instead of demanding compliance.
Lisa might not realize how much her care mattered. But I won't forget it.
If you've had a Lisa in your life - a nurse, teacher, caregiver who went above and beyond - Iād love to hear about them. And maybe today's the day to let them know how much their support mattered. ā¤ļø
P.S. Speaking of consent, yes, I asked my kiddo's permission before sharing this post.
Image: Canva approximation of kid and nurse giving high fives. š