In this series we are exploring mantras and their role in caring for children from hard places. Dr. Cross’s TBRI mantra includes nuggets of wisdom that can be helpful for anyone who is using Trust-Based Relational Intervention®. If you haven’t yet, go ahead and read the previous posts in this series before reading this installment.
Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV
by Emmelie Pickett
To put it lightly, caring for children from hard places is no easy task. In fact, if we’re being honest, some days you may wish that you could throw in the towel or at the very least, take a break. Making a self-care plan that includes breaks is vital to trust-based caregiving.
“Don’t Quit’ isn’t about shaming a caregiver who may feel like quitting. Don’t Quit’ is about commitment. We will mess up in many ways, but if we’re committed to the kids we are serving, we have a strong foundation for building connections and correcting behavior. ‘If not you, then who?’ is meant to encourage caregivers to surround themselves with a support system. It’s extremely difficult to do this work on an island. If not you, who from your support system can you call in for reinforcement?” – Dr. David Cross
TBRI is truly an investment. It takes consistency, persistence, connection and attunement, but the payoffs are immense. We encourage you to stick with it and celebrate every success, no matter how great or small.
Use your words:
What do you do for self-care?
Who is on your “team” in caring for your child?