A Year in Review
WOW!! I can’t believe it’s been a year already. 12 months of living on the road, meeting with amazing providers, and recording a great podcast. It feels like a great time to pause and review, think about what I have accomplished, what I still want to do and why am I doing it all?
Reflection can be very illuminating. When we are in the process of doing something, we can lose sight of the big picture, instead focusing on the small details at hand. Once we pause, it allows us to take stock of all the small moving pieces, we can see if the direction we are headed in is still where we want to be going.
This reflection has been great for me. While doing all the traveling, meeting and recording, it’s easy to get lost in the process. When I sat down and looked at it here is what I saw:
I met with 8 release providers, 4 bodyworkers, 4 IBCLC’s, 2 Breastfeeding Medicine doctors, 2 Myofuntional therapists and 1 breastmilk allergy researcher. Wow, what a list.
When I reflect, I think about what does it all mean? Why am I doing this, what is to be gained and do I want to keep going.
To me, the podcast is about learning first and foremost. It is about recognizing that there is never enough knowledge, that other providers have a different lens and are able to see things differently than I can, making them excellent teachers for me. I truly believe that when I stop learning or wanting to learn, I should retire! We are ALWAYS finding new information, advances, adaptations for new situations. We must learn, or we get stagnate. Every family I work with challenges me in a different way. They all have different problems, different challenges and different goals. Each time I work with a client I learn from them, even if it’s just how to best help them achieve their goals. Learning keeps me excited about helping families and it keeps me humble. It is essential to never assume we know everything. That is when a provider stops listenings, stops caring and just gives the same answer to each and every person. Hopefully that will never be me!
When I think about why I do this and what I’m getting, that is all about learning too. As I watch these practices try to support tongue tie families, I pay attention to how they are doing things. How do clients find them? What do they require- not just cost but evaluation for function? Who sees the client first, when do they refer?
My end goal is to be part of an AMAZING tongue tie practice. I want to continue supporting families virtually all over the world, but locally (wherever I settle) I want to be part of a collaborative practice with a great release provider and a bodyworker. This practice would have a staged approach- evaluate function first, increase function through exercises and bodywork, prep family for release. When plateau happens (or when necessary as deemed by team) the release provider steps in and preforms the frenectomy. Then care continues with myself and bodyworker as necessary to achieve best oral function possible and address any other issues.
I have seen teams that have shown me what I want and what I don’t want. I know who I want to be part of my team and what type of providers should not be included. I even have a possible location (but holding off on that for now as still unsure where I will settle).
This last year has been an absolute blessing and I feel grateful for each and every provider I have been able to meet with. The 2nd year is starting out amazing, keep listening to see where this year takes me!