When people find out that I am a pediatric speech-language pathologist and the mother of a child with Down syndrome, I am often asked about the order of these life events. Did my daughter inspire my career or was it a coincidence?
During my first year of college, I decided on my professional path. I liked the field of education but did not feel I had the personality to manage 20 or so children. My mother had a long career as an educator, so I would carry on the family tradition in a slightly different area. Speech-language pathology would allow me to work individually with children or in small groups. I would teach but in a very specific area. It was the perfect fit for me, and I truly enjoyed my studies in the undergraduate and graduate programs.
After graduation, my first job was in a school in my hometown. I loved my job, especially the work with preschoolers. Almost two years into my professional career, I gave birth to my daughter. I fully expected to go back to my job after my maternity leave. However, her curve-balls of Down syndrome and congestive heart failure had me quickly changing course.
After that, most of my professional career was in private practice, providing speech therapy in my state’s 0-3 program. The years ticked by in my professional life as well as my personal one. Every stage of development for my daughter gave me first-hand knowledge of parenting a child with delays. Her specific feeding difficulties, sign language communication, and use of a speech generated communication device all caused me to seek answers for her and, as a result, grow my professional knowledge. There were parts of my life that intertwined so much that it was difficult to tell at times what was parenting with her and what was ‘therapy.’
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My daughter is now 18 and plans to stay in school until age 22. Over the years, I have sent her to school with a mixed bag of emotions. Many years, I was concerned about who would be teaching her, how they would care for my child, and whether they would push her to reach her fullest potential. I sometimes fretted over IEP meetings and test scores. The older she gets, the less stressful it is. But, when she was younger, I wanted some sort of assurance that I was making good decisions for her future.
In a blink of an eye, I am at the 20 year mark in my field. A few years ago, I took a position back in a school setting. I had the opportunity to teach a Communication Development classroom for early elementary students with significant speech or language delays. My classroom is busy, challenging, and never boring. Now, I am the teacher who is trying to reassure parents who may be nervous or fearful like I was for so many years.
As a teacher, I want nothing more than my students to succeed and learn independence. I want to be my very best for them, so they can make achievements and enjoy school. Understanding all of my background and where I come from, here is my prayer as the school year gets ready to begin:
God,
Let me teach my students well this year. Give me wisdom to help each student. I pray that fresh ideas will come to all adults working in my classroom, so that solutions can be found to problems that arise. Help your love and joy flow through me, so each student can feel your love. Give me patience during trying times. Give me understanding when my students have trouble communicating. Let my students be at peace at school, and let my classroom be a joyful place for them. Let my students progress and make achievements. Give me insight so I can make a difference in my students’ lives this school year. Amen!
Over the last few weeks, I have been purchasing school items for my daughter and I. We will have different roles to play as we start back to school. However, I pray we will both have successful years under God’s guidance and protection.
Evana is a wife and mother of two children. Evana is a pediatric speech-language pathologist and serves children with autism, feeding disorders, and other developmental delays. You can connect with Evana on Twitter, Facebook, and her blog, A Special Purposed Life. You can also read more about her family’s story in her book, Badges of Motherhood: One Mother’s Story about Family, Down syndrome, Hospitals, and Faith.
