Esther 10 years at KinderThuisZorg
''I really feel valued and seen at Children's Home Care.''
What makes working at KinderThuisZorg so special to you?
For 10 years now, I have experienced KinderThuisZorg as a truly wonderful organization. Together, day in and day out, we work passionately to provide the best care for sick children. What a beautiful mission it is! And I have been able to witness many steps in this. An organization of which I am very proud.
What is the funniest thing you have experienced?
Actually something very simple, but it shows so well how simple children can think. I had a little conversation with a child in which he told me that when he turned 5 he would join his friend's class. Thinking of a date, I asked him when he would turn 5 then. He looked at me very surprised (because he couldn't believe that I didn't know) and then he said to me: ''On my birthday of course!''. Children are SO much fun. They make me genuinely happy.
What is the saddest thing you have experienced?
I find it very sad, when children cannot get better
and die way too early. To be involved in this process and to experience the grief
in these families always touches me. Then I sometimes wonder
Why am I doing this work? But precisely in this intensive care, I experience that I can be of great significance to the child and the family. It is great to be able to be part of the team, so that we can make things run as smoothly as possible for the family.
the family and they can look back on it positively. It gives
great satisfaction when this goes well. And then I remember why I find even this sad care so beautiful to supervise.
What important knowledge and experience do you take away from these 10 years?
I am still learning almost every day! So in 10 years, that's really a lot of knowledge
and expertise with me. But my most important teaching is that life and health are not to be taken for granted. With this knowledge I try to make every day a beautiful day.
When is a day's work successful for you?
A child that I was able to make laugh for a moment or make feel good for example by a compliment, is certainly enough for that! But when I really go home with a successful feeling, is when our team has really made a difference for the child. For example when a child is very tense/anxious before an action and then we were able to make a plan to improve this. And if this is really helpful for a child, I can go home with a satisfied feeling.
Look back to when you started here. Who were you then as a person and who are you now?
I don't think I've really changed as a person, but I've definitely grown through all the knowledge and experiences I've had the opportunity to experience within Children's Home Care. Training as a pediatric nurse has also helped me get to where I am today. In these 10 years, I have definitely become stronger and more able to substantiate and reason about the care I provide. I can also
I listen better and respond to the child's needs.
What are the biggest changes you've experienced in care recently?
When I started, we took many actions from parents and were often in care of a child for a long time. Now we are much more likely to use teaching programs to parents or children, so that families regain their own power and are not
are no longer dependent on caregivers. What I personally find a very nice development
is the attention that has come to trauma-free child care. This is
increasingly deployed and multidisciplinary; a very valuable development within child care.
What has kept you loyal to KinderThuisZorg year after year?
I think KinderThuisZorg is a really beautiful organization to work for.
They work very hard to raise child care at home to an ever higher level. I really feel that we do it together, everyone gets opportunities to use and develop his or her talents. I also have very nice colleagues, a team that is really there for each other. These are important reasons for me, but I will not deny that I also like the fact that we are often spoiled with beautiful
I really feel appreciated and seen at KinderThuisZorg.
How do you see yourself in 10 years?
Pooh! 10 years... I don't really want to think about that yet. Time flies so fast already. I prefer to live by the day, enjoying life at home and at work. But I do hope that I can devote myself to child care with just as much pleasure!
What else is it best for us to know about you?
You might like to know that every year I participate with my brother and my
I compete in the Dutch jigsaw puzzle championships every year. One day I hope to make it to the finals, but I'll have to pick up the pace of my puzzling. So if I can borrow another nice puzzle from you to practice I would love to hear about it.
