Ghost in the mirror
She tells me sometimes she feels like a ghost in the mirror.
She's there but she can't tell it's her anymore.
The kids see her as mom and that's okay.
She gets the groceries, she cooks, she works, and she's there.
But she can't tell it's her anymore.
She lost her job because her son was sick, then she was sick, and then he broke his arm.
She's there for him and hugs him.
But she can't tell it's her anymore.
Her daughter wants to spend time with her friends and date and mom is scared.
She listens and tries to show her how to be safe the best she can.
But she can’t tell it’s her anymore.
Don't worry, she has a new job starting soon.
She says under her breath she can't do small work like Instacart or Amazon Flex. She's too
depressed and it's hard to get out of bed. But rent is due and she’s in her head.
She can't tell it's her anymore.
Slowly she starts to come out from within.
She still cooks and cleans and hugs her kids.
She finds a job and makes herself get up. She's making rent this month and the appointments are
set.
It might just be her in the mirror.
An alarm shakes her bed and makes her get up. The kids are on time for the bus and no more
calls about fights.
She's got money for extra snacks, rent, and a new blanket for herself.
She reads with her kids, shows them how to cook, they get off their phones and see each other’s
faces.
She walks by the mirror on her way out the door.
Things are tough but she looks and she sees; there's no ghost in the mirror.
It's her and she's there.
She's back she tells me, with a confident stare.
Joan Augustyn has been an occupational therapist in Kansas and Missouri for over 10 years. She has worked in skilled nursing, schools, acute care, mental health, and community settings. She also worked as a clinical assistant professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center for seven years. Currently she is passionate about and enjoys her work as an occupational therapist working with children and families in their homes through a mental health grant connected to a local public school as well as working as an OT consultant for Can Do MS, a program supporting people who have multiple sclerosis through coaching and community programs.
