So, I thought I’d talk a little bit about Carli.
Carli is another person I don’t really know but love dearly.
She is one of the childcare workers who works with Heidi 2 days a week. She’s lovely, down-to-earth and has the most infectious laugh I’ve ever had the privilege to hear. She goes the extra mile and then some, she is one-in-a-million.
Recently it dawned on me that Heidi only has about 6 weeks left of childcare with Carli…before she moves up to 3 year old Kinder and a brand new worker. That’s 12 days left for the year. 12 days to gather up the courage to tell Carli how much she has meant to us over the last 3 years. 12 days to let her know how much she’s appreciated, how amazing she truly is…because, even though it’s obvious to me…does she really know? I think I’ve spent alot of time just assuming she knows just how important she is. And then it dawned on me – nobody can read my mind, so even though it may be overstepping the bounds…I feel she needs to hear it.
How many people do you know that you appreciate more than words can express? Have you ever told them?
She’s worked with Heidi since she was 14 months old. She paid close attention to Heidi, making sure she was fed before she cried…which was the main thing I was worried about when we first started. She celebrated with us as Heidi learnt to sit up on her own, as she finally gathered a sense of well-being, as she began to feed herself, when she started crawling on all fours and pulling herself to a stand. And finally as she took her first steps. She was there clapping and cheering and crying just as much as myself.
When it was suggested that I should teach Heidi sign language, Carli was the first to pick my brain about all of the signs I was using at home. When there was an opportunity to do a ‘Key-Word Signing’ course, Carli was the first to put her hand up. She partnered me throughout the course and learnt everything that I did with as much enthusiasm as myself.
She worked one-on-one with Heidi’s Physio, O.T. and Speech Therapists to make sure she could take over all of the exercises while Heidi was with her.
We were absent for 2 days one week and she told me how she’d hoped it was because of Heidi’s long-awaited surgery…it wasn’t, but it was nice to know she’d remembered and had been thinking of us the entire time.
She tells me constantly that I’m an amazing Mum and how much she admires me – being told that by someone you admire so much is impossible to top.
She’s the one who told me to “find your niche and go for it”.
My dilemma is, how on earth do you thank someone like that? What kind of present would do her justice? I’ve written a letter so far, which seems to be the best way to convey our appreciation…other than that, I’m stumped.
Life is all about change, moving up and on and all that…but I have to admit, this really sucks. We’re really going to miss her and I hope by the time the end of the year is here, she knows all of this and more. We really wouldn’t be where we are now if it wasn’t for her…
With words, like these and updating her with letters and pictures. Plus, I’m sure she knows what she means to you and your daughter.