The People Who Built Me: The Woman Who Raised Me

Not everyone who helps build us does so in simple ways.

Some people leave us with wonderful memories.

Some leave us with painful ones.

And sometimes the same person does both.

The woman who raised me was one of those people.

One of the things she gave me was my first exposure to the elderly. She wasn't a caregiver, but she spent time visiting people, and she often took me with her. She cleaned houses for a lot of elderly, and visited the senior center a couple times a month. At a young age, I found myself sitting in senior centers, listening to stories, talking with older adults, and learning how much wisdom can come from a life well lived.

Looking back, I can't help but wonder if those experiences planted the first seeds of what would eventually become my career.

She also taught me resilience.

Life wasn't always easy, and neither was our relationship. But because of that, I learned how to keep moving forward when things got hard. I learned how to have thick skin when faced with criticism, unsupportive people or hateful comments. From her I learned that not everyone will understand you, support you, or agree with your choices—and that's okay.

Some lessons came from the good memories.

Some came from the difficult ones.

Both helped shape me.

As I've gotten older, I've learned that life isn't always black and white. People aren't all good or all bad. Sometimes the people who hurt us also leave us with lessons, memories, and experiences that become part of who we are.

The woman who raised me taught me strength, whether she meant to or not.

She introduced me to the generation I would eventually dedicate my career to serving.

And for better or worse, she helped shape the woman I am today.

And for that I am thankful, even through the bad memories I do thank her for what she taught me

— Kayla

Kayla Cares LLC
Where personalized care meets the comfort of your home
📞 605-510-7952

Providing trusted, compassionate care in the Black Hills.