Case Study- Post 6

The family has had a rough couple of weeks and it has been difficult to get time in to talk to mom. The baby was admitted to the hospital, for a chronic condition. The baby was hospitalized for a week and half. The doctors were unable to keep her fever down, so they kept her. Mom kept in contact with me daily, and sometimes twice a day just to check in and let me know how things were going. This was a huge step for our relationship! When the baby has been hospitalized before she would not even contact me at all. I felt as though she has come to realize that I am genuine in my intentions with her and her family.When mom called to check in with me on Friday, I asked her if it was alright if I came to the hospital to visit and bring a puzzle for the baby. She agreed to me coming to the hospital over the weekend, but asked me to call first so that I could come at a time they were both awake. On Saturday morning I called the hospital, and arranged a time with mom to come and visit. I went to the hospital, with a puzzle, and a cup of hot chocolate in hand with the hopes that mom and I could talk about how this might detour her work for school, and I was wondering about how she was able to take time off her new job. I walked into the room, and mom was sitting on the bed reading to the baby. I smiled as I walked in, offered her the hot chocolate, and opened the puzzle for the baby. I sat down next to her and asked her how she was feeling. She said that she was exhausted! I told her I didn't blame her, and that anyone would be exhausted doing everything that she was doing. I asked her how her online homework was going. She said that the work was easy, except for the math part. I asked her what was difficult about it. She said that she just is not good at math, that she loves reading, and writing but hates math. I asked her if she wanted me to look into tutoring for her for the math work. She said that her sisters were going to help her with all the math work.I told her that I was glad they were supporting her on finishing her work. She said that the doctors are going to discharge the baby in a couple days as long as her fever can stay down. She said she will be glad when they are able to go home because she is so tired and can not rest at the hospital. I asked her about how the new job was going. She said that the new job was going good, that she was able to take shifts at the hospital with her sisters, they would come to the hospital at night so that she could go to work. I stayed at the hospital and played with the baby for a little while and then left. Before I left mom said that she would call me on Monday and let me know how the baby was doing.
         My next step when I talk with mom is to discuss with her how well I think that she is doing with handling all the stress of being in the hospital.  I think that the implications that this interaction has for other educators is to remind us how important it is to have a relationship with the families that we are serving. Also, how important it is to respect the parents opinions and values. Lastly, that even though we may have an agenda with a family, but that life happens around our agenda and that we need to meet the parents where they are.