Work...

Today, I had to attend a mandatory meeting for the home health agency I work for. It was a regular business meeting, letting us all know how the company was faring with all the medicaid cuts lately.

It was a good meeting, but the part I enjoyed the most, was hearing from the owner and founder of the company. He spoke of his own child who had a terminal illness, that needed daily care like Max.

Before Max, I had many annual business meetings to attend, where the head guy would get up and assure everyone there would be as little cuts as possible, and how great the company was doing. Knowing the whole time it was fluff, they were always just trying to keep the worker bees happy.

But this time, it was so personal. When I walked in, the HR manager said, "Hi Deana...how's Max?". I've seen him once when I was hired, and once when I went through orientation. With over 700 employees...that is just crazy to me! There were over 100 people in the room, most of them parent care-givers. This means it moms and dads just like me, who work for this company and get paid to care for their children's extraordinary care.

He talked about how it started with one family, and is no up to over 700 families getting services and employed with them. He spoke of the different committees and boards he is on within the community, always there fighting for the rights of disabled community.

He talked about how he knows there may be nights that we have to sign in at 2:00 in the morning because our child was up having seizures all night. And how we take our sick time when our own children are in the hospital.

There were a few moments that brought tears to my eyes. Once when he was "applauding" the parents there for their hard work, and dedication to their children. He said he had the hardest working employees, because they were working a labor of love. He mentioned how when parents are expecting a child, and they're asked if it's a boy or a girl, what did we all answer?

As a collective, a quiet, understanding group said..."It doesn't matter, as long as they're healthy.". It was like a single beating heart at that moment. That entire room of people knew what my life was like. And it was a powerful moment. And I wasn't the only one shedding a few tears.

I know there are other companies in the area that offer more pay...and possibly more hours...but when a mandatory meeting, that was one of ten this month offers such a personal experience, and such a heartfelt conversation, it makes me feel like I'm in the right place.