In small towns, many questions are already answered: that laugh is your grandma’s, that limp– from the game in ’79, that car–because your business had a good year with the sale of the old building. We know where you go to school and sometimes go to church. We gave you your first job cleaning up at the restaurant across from the river where most everyone, for generations, goes at least once in a while. We’re glad that you are there because we like seeing how you are doing and we like seeing our old friends in your face.
Most of Carson’s clinical staff live out of town. That’s helpful for folks who want that added layer of privacy. It can feel more secure for some people to talk to a therapist who didn’t go to second grade with your aunt.
For Carson’s pre-school and childcare staff, things are a little different. Some senior staff have been teaching there for decades, which means they did not go to second grade with your aunt, but they did have your aunt in their after school program in second grade. It means they are by your side for the long haul.
The Jacobowski family had nine kids. Both parents and the kids lived in a two-room apartment. Dad had not mastered a trade nor gone to college and jobs were hard to come by. Mom’s health was too fragile for work. Dad hunted and fished with the kids to keep the food coming in.
The children all went to Carson’s childcare programs. At least seven Carson clinicians ended up helping out. Staff held parent groups, made home visits and trips to the grocery store to help the family figure out how to prioritize and manage. Four of the children had their own special needs. As the Jacobowski Family matured, the older kids were willing to accept support from school adjustment counselors and other programs in the community because things had gone so well at Carson.
For many years now, the Jacobowskis have been out of Carson’s care. Every once in awhile a teacher or clinician will get a call from one of the family members who say simply, “Hi, it’s me,” knowing that the question of who we are has already been answered. We are neighbors.
By JAC Patrissi
