Frustrated at Thifty’s, we ventured to Walmart. As we slowly filled our cart with basic necessities, my attention was pulled toward a group of ladies who had clearly run into one another on their shopping trips. I didn’t pay too much attention until I heard the words ‘nursing’ and ‘looking for a job.’

I listened a little closer and from what I could gather, there was someone in the group, or maybe someone’s daughter looking for a job in caregiving.

We had recently lost one of our full-time staff members and I never have great luck with posting our job opportunity on line. This time around I had posted on line and had a few interested candidates. None of them ended up working out for various reasons. So,

when I heard this group of ladies chatting, I thought to myself, “what do I have to lose?”

I slowly approached them and awkwardly apologized for interrupting. I was up front with them about overhearing them talking about someone possibly looking for a job in caregiving. They said yes, in fact, I was correct. They pointed to one of the women and she explained that she was an EA for the school district and was looking for something part time. I then briefly explained our opportunity with William.

I gave her my cell number and my full name so she could look me up and confirm I wasn’t just some crazy lady.

All of the women were friendly and it maybe even felt like it was appreciated that I stuck my nose into their business.

Later that evening, I decided to go to a random, drop-in, exercise class. Oddly enough, one of the women I had met at Walmart was there too. I had been to that venue before but this was the first time I had seen her.

We made eye contact and couldn’t believe that we had randomly met a couple hours earlier and then were so quickly reunited – it felt serendipitous.

By the time I got home, I had received a message from Christina – the lady who was actually interested in the position. She was eager to meet William and within a couple days she had started training.

I’m happy to say that she is still with us a few months later and she has been an exceptional addition to our team.

I’m often asked how I find such good caregivers and I never know exactly how to answer. But in giving it some thought, I realized that my struggle is not that I don’t know how to answer how I hire people, it’s that I don’t know how everyone else should hire people for THEIR needs. But I will share here that I think the best advice I can give is to follow your gut instinct. Follow the hiring process that feels good for you. Follow the subtle queues your sixth sense gives you.

The position of working for William is unique and also one of the most valued positions in our home by every human in our home. So,

for me, I don’t care about experience, I don’t care about age, and I don’t care about education. I care about honesty, integrity, and someone’s ability to put my son’s needs above their own while they are working with him.

I care that they have a genuine interest in him as a human being and as a pre-teen boy. I care if they can see potential. I care if they can see him.

Being William’s caregiver is an intimate dance every day so who I choose, to do this dance with him and our family, is based purely on feel.

Over the years, I have received many messages about how great our caregivers have been when they are seen out at events or just out in community with William. And

although I always feel anxiety when one caregiver leaves and I’m thrust into finding another, I do know that we have something special within the walls of our home and I will find the next special human eventually, even if it is at our local Walmart.

~ Keely

Keely is an author and advocate for children living with disabilities. She lives on Vancouver Island in beautiful British Columbia, with her husband, her son William who has cerebral palsy, her two daughters and several four-legged friends.