What I’m not, By  Steve Slowinski

   A nurse.
   A doctor.
   A social worker.

   A “Keeper of the Toys.”
   A magical “make-this-kid-not-cry” person.
   Only someone to play with the kids.

   I’m not superfluous.

What I am:

   I am a teacher,
   A helping hand,
   A support,
   An advocate,
   An active listener,
   A therapeutic touch,
   And a child development specialist 

      Every.
      Single.
      Day.

   I am an OR prep-er,
   An IV teacher,
   A de-coder of PICC, VCUG, MRI and NG,�
   A distraction provider,
   An inpatient support,
   And a guide and voice for siblings�
   All in the same day.

   I am calm despite cancer, CAT scans, and catheters.
   I am strong in the face of syncope, sickle cell, and surgery.
   Kids can’t always do these things for themselves.
   That’s why I’m here.

   I am deliberate in all of my actions and words
   Because I use the language of children
   And it has power.�
   I am flexible and go where I’m needed
   Because children can’t always be flexible
   About when they’re going to freak.

   I am not here to merely play with children,�
   give them toys, and distract them�
   With “SpongeBob”.

   I’m a Child Life Specialist.
   When kids say they can’t, I tell them they can.