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We had trauma sensitive training today at school and it really made me think of some of the trauma that I had as a child and teen. This is just a short poem about my most traumatic event, which happened during the summer before my freshman year of high school. It certainly is something that colored my experiences in school, and I was lucky to have some teachers who were able to understand that sometimes very small things can trigger very big emotions. This training has really got me thinking about trauma and the way we all deal with it. I need a little bit of time to process, but I will most likely be posting more about my thinking soon.
That Day
He came home sick that day.
It was a summer day like any other that day.
He told us not to panic that day.
He called his cardiologist that day.
Did he lie to us about the conversation that day?
We went about our day.
We went to the pharmacy to get more Nitro that day,
Just in case.
He napped on the couch that day.
My little sister went next door to play that day.
My mom screamed.
I called for help.
I ran to get the neighbor.
My mom kept screaming.
We waited for the sirens that day.
He was staring into space.
He was not responding.
He stopped breathing.
They took Dad to the hospital that day.
We got bad news that day.
Our world turned upside down that day.
I’m so sorry you had to go through such an experience at such a young age. Did your trauma training include the book “The Body Keeps the Score,” by Bessel Van der Kolk? A women’s group I’m in just read this book and found so much to talk about, we’re discussing it at a second meeting.
Oh, I’m so sorry. That Day was certainly a painful one for your family.
My kids came to me from a trauma background, and it has made me so much more sensitive to what my students may have experienced, and how it affects them in school. I am glad your school offers training on the topic and wish mine did too.
I am glad we are doing the training. It is actually a district-wide initiative and is needed in a big urban district. So many kids have so much trauma…it is so heartbreaking to think about.
Wow! So powerful.
I am sorry for your loss. The training sounds amazing and you will have a unique bond to help you empathize with your students. Thank you for sharing.