The best caretaking profits from a sense of team. I learned that when I was a working mother. With my oldest child, I placed him in a home day care that had only one person in charge. Often when I would pick up my child, the woman in charge was frustrated, tired, and lonely. While she was an awesome woman who did everything she could to provide good care, the truth was that it was a very challenging job to do on her own. Childcare like caretaking in any arena profits from a team approach. Later, with my other sons, I chose childcare providers that had a team approach.
Teamwork when it comes to care allows you to spell each other when you need a break. When you work as a team you get to bounce ideas off one another, help each other, and enjoy the camaraderie and friendship that comes from good teamwork.
So as I look ahead wth regard to my current caretaking role, I'm thinking about the potential that good teamwork holds for this endeavor. The work includes lots and lots of details and decisions--so many that it can be cumbersome for individuals and for a team. Yet, to make those decisions together and focus on the details together will likely result in better caretaking and a stronger team.
How can we do that?
I do think the team would profit from a good meeting led by a skilled consultant or coach. It takes time for a team to learn how to work together in ways that are sensitive, positive, and good.
As far as my role as team member in this caretaking situation, I have already made a lot of mistakes and know what not to do. As far as what to do, I'll mostly take my lead from the team in the days ahead. In addition, I'll continue to provide the care that has proved successful such as tasty meals, completion of chores, companionship, presence and positivity. Onward.