Little 6 year-old Susanna has been learning to confront her fears and her traumas.
She used to be extremely afraid of taking showers. Even if water would touch her face, it would trigger her trauma so bad that she would yell so loud.
One day while we were playing together, I asked her, “Why do you have a fear of the water?” She responded, “It’s because before when I would be punished, I would get cold water splashed on my face.”
For this reason, she would want my assistance in showering. I told her, “You can shower all by yourself, with other caregivers you shower by yourself—why do you want me to help you shower?” She said, “It’s because when you help me shower, you tell me stories and it helps me to forget my fear of water.”
Now, Susanna is able to shower all on her own. While there are days that she needs some assistance or to know that I am simply there, she is able to shower by herself.
Stories like this are what reminds you that you are doing something good—That your work is not in vain.