A Poem about Caregiving

12/20/2021

Remember that children, marriages, and flower gardens reflect the kind of care they get.
H. Jackson Brown, Jr., author

Julia Koumbassa, Director of the North Campus Children’s Center and Practitioner Institute at the University of Michigan sent us this message recently:

“I wanted to share this poem with you.

Over the last few weeks, we have been looking at parts of the book Illuminating Care together in our Dialogue Groups at our center. One of our infant teachers, Sandra Brown, wrote this poem in response to her reflections on care.

She gave me permission to share in case you might want to use it in ExchangeEveryday.”

We do indeed want to use it, and thank Sandra for her contribution. Here it is:

A Caregiver’s Touch

Dear child I care for, you are impressed in my heart,
I honor your abilities right from the start.
I listen to your every need
When I talk with you, sing to you or sit to read.
A lack of energy does not exist,
Through our connections, routines and daily shifts.
I receive you with joy when we meet everyday
As I hold you, rock you and down you lay.
The touch of my hands reveals my care
As tender moments we often share.
A sense of contentment comes over me
When our time together has empowered you to be.
To be a child that is celebrated for who you are
From the hands of a caregiver that open a jar,
A jar that is filled with joy, hope and love
Twinkling and sparkling like the stars above.
This is you dear child…in every way
This truth of my care for you will never sway!

- Sandra Brown

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