How To Fiercely Advocate
From the time my oldest child was an infant I have heard this phrase “you are your child’s biggest advocate.” I never understood just how true and vitally important that is until I had an infant with serious medical concerns.
I’m 5 months in to my journey with Felicity and I’ve already learned a few things that I wanted to share.
- Be informed. Soak up information. You will have many situations where you need to advocate for your child. School, medical issues, social issues. In every situation make sure you go into it informed and armed with information that you feel confident with.
- Ask questions. Never be afraid to seek out information. No question is stupid or unimportant. If you don’t know or don’t understand something, ask! You can’t be informed if you are unsure of any bit of information. So often I have found myself falling into the “well doctors know” or “well teachers know” which they do. They are intelligent well trained professionals. They aren’t my children’s parents. I always ask questions until I am satisfied with the answer. If one person can’t answer, someone else can.
- Consider that you are an important part of your child’s team. Whether it’s medical issues, school issues, sports team, whatever the situation you are part of the team of people in charge of assisting your child. When you assert yourself as an active, interested, and invested participant you are often treated as such.
- Form good relationships with the people who are involved in the care/coaching/education of your child. I have found that when I run into someone who I am just not communicating with well, there is often someone else who I may have a better experience with.
From the moment our babies are born we are tasked with making decisions for them, about them, and as they grow; with them. We become fierce advocates for them. When things aren’t going right, we get them what they need. When things are going right we still fight to ensure they get everything they need.
Every child is different. We will each have different experiences, different views, different choices to make. With some planning, education, and confidence we can become strong advocates for our children no matter the situation or circumstance.
Above all else remind yourself that no matter what you are their parent. Your thoughts, opinions, questions, feelings, and later on those of your child, all matter. They are not just part of the story, they are the story. Entrust your children to those who value and respect you.
You are your child’s biggest advocate, find people who value your place as such.
The definition of an advocate is a supporter, one who will argue, evenfor a cause. How often are we willing to plead for others? I mean really plead, beg even, put ourselves in a potentially vulnerable position in the interest of someone who can’t do it for themselves?