Celebrating Our Fun First Therapy Graduates!!!

PC: Haylee Hill
My sweet friend and extremely talented photographer

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you might look back and realize they were the big things." 

-Robert Brault

Just over two years ago, I took a leap of faith and began offering private therapy for families.

#truthbomb

I had no clue what I was doing.

But, I knew how to teach kids to talk and learn social skills and that I felt was enough.

Parent coaching was very new to me. Running a business solo was very new. Doing therapy with parents watching was also new for me and totally uncomfortable at first, especially when they realize "all we do is play." 😜Convincing any adult that play is the best way can be a bit of a challenge.

...but it works people, I promise!!

Over the next few weeks two of my very first private therapy kiddos will be graduating. Both of these boys have experienced so much growth through the support of not only my time with them, but more importantly the team of people who surround them and their continued movement toward growth.

I've spent nearly every Tuesday evening and Friday morning with one of these two littles for over two years now.

TWO YEARS.

I still remember writing their names down in a notebook in the parking lot of Home Depot as I reached out to parents for setting up my first home visits. We hadn't even moved back home from the city yet. Our house hadn't sold, we hadn't bought the farm we live on now and I didn't have an office. Basically, I had a name, a Facebook page and a degree. #progressoverperfection

I remember the first home visit with each family and where it all began. I remember the first time one of them started to imitate and repeat during an activity saying, "Oh no! Pig fell!" and giggling. I'm pretty sure we repeated this a million times and then continued by pushing the cow off the table and onto the floor another million times. We even continued this activity for three to four sessions following to continue expanding on his words through this repetitive activity and the attention he gave me during it.

I remember when the other little boy began to follow directions and engage in activities, a little longer each session.

And I will never ever forget the pure joy I have felt every week watching both of them grow into bigger, brighter individuals. It's true that as an educator, the kids have a much greater impact on you, than you will ever have on them. Our relationships in life all have meaning and these two relationships with these boys and the relationships I've built with their family members and other providers in their lives has been nothing short of memorable.

Two years ago I began working with these families and today, I am so grateful for the work we've been able to do together and the challenges we've supported one another through and the celebrations we've shared together.

Working with families these past two years has been nothing short of amazing.

I can't promise that doing what you love will heal stress or make all your worries go away. I lose sleep too and there are times when I feel burnt out and like I have given way too much of myself away. ;) 

But finding something that allows you to grow and gives you the opportunity to look back and see the progress you've made seems pretty darn special.

So today I'm grateful.

Grateful for those first few families who took a chance and allowed me to come into their homes.

Grateful for the therapists who are now working alongside me, Nicole Eklund, Syndey Carlson and Shelley Revord...you ladies are rockstars!

And most importantly, I'm grateful for my husband who encourages me to keep growing and on those days "I don't think I can," continues to show up for me. 

Squeeze your loved ones today and look back on how far you've come friends! Appreciate the days that are hard, knowing that they are days that move us forward in the end and enjoy the ride. One day, you'll look back and feel nothing but love and