Why do we choose care?

I was sat trying to write a post for tonight about Tom's home schooling and I was really struggling with the words as i just kept going back to the same thing...Why do we choose to care? This has been going round and round in my head after recently visiting a friend in hospital and seeing some of the poor care being given by some of the staff. I thought to myself 'Why have you chosen this career?'.

I find it so difficult to answer when someone says to me ''Why do you do what you do?'' the answer is always because ''I love it.'' That is true, I really do love being a carer. It is more than a job it is part of my life, a huge part of my life.

Unfortunatley I see so often people who should be caring for others whether that be children, teenagers, adults or the elderly doing it as just a job. Care should never be about a pay check, it should be about building a friendship with someone and a trust in which you both feel comfortable spending time together and making memories.

Tom and I have a bond that I feel is so special. When I am not with Tom I am thinking of him and when I go into him in the mornings I often get a smile, unless he is being cheeky and makes me work hard for them! Those smiles are enough to make my day, That smile means, ''You've made me happy'' or ''I am glad to see you.'' How special is that? That is something you could never get from any other job.

If Tom is upset I am able to comfort him, when he is happy I can laugh with him, and when Tom is being cheeky we have so much fun. Although Tom and I have a lovely bond this took time to build as Tom had to learn to trust me and get to know who I was and what I was all about. Time is a huge factor in being able to build that strong friendship.

I worry that care is too easy to get in to. You don't need any specialised education or extensive training, you can sign up to an agency and they will give you few weeks of training and then you are 'set to go'. I don't feel it should be this easy because if you really want to be a part of care then you will work hard and get the qualifications needed to be a part of it.

I got into care because my beautiful niece was born and shortly after she arrived it was discovered that she had Down Syndrome, in the following months she became very poorly and left hospital with very complex medical needs, she was my driving force for doing what I now do and every day I am thankful for her.

By having a personal connection with care I feel it makes me better at what I do. I see Tom as a little brother, how would I expect my little brother to be cared for?

With compasion, dignity, fun but most of all love.

I could go on and on about this as it is something I feel so strongly about. I Love talking with people who have the same passion as me and it is so refreshing to hear that other people feel the same.

I suppose it is about those little smiles each day that drive me to do better and be a better friend for Tom. My role isn't just to fufill Tom's medical care needs, it is also to be his friend, have fun with him and by doing that we have made a very special freindship that I know will last forever.

If you are a carer please do not hesititate to contact me, I would love to hear from you and get an online community set up.