Taylor spent a few weeks in school learning about community workers. She came home each day telling me about different people and what they do to help the community. She was proud to know so many firefighters (we have a handful of them just on our street alone, and her Daddy was a volunteer for many years) and she talked about the many times she’s visited various firehouses. She talked about the crossing guard we’ve become friendly with during school pickup, and how he not only helps people cross the street, but he’s nice to her and always talks to her and smiles. We spoke about how her doctors and nurses are community workers and how they are always there to help when she and her brothers don’t feel well. We spoke about veterinarians and how they help Ranger and other puppies. We discussed teachers being community workers, and she was proud to know that both her G and her Auntie are teachers who “always help teach kids and are so nice.”

When asked to name her favorite community worker, she didn’t hesitate to say that it was Ann. Ann is one of my closest friends, and her daughter, Emma, and Taylor happen to be best buddies. It also happens that Ann is a paramedic. Taylor is proud to know someone who “helps sick people get better and brings them to the hospital in her ambulance.” She reminded us of one of the times that the boys had croup and had respiratory issues and Ann came up the street within minutes to check their breathing sounds with a stethoscope so we could avoid an unnecessary ER trip. She also ran up the street to help and hug this crying, distraught Mama when Joseph choked on Gold Fish and we had about 15 firefighters here. She was nine months pregnant at the time.

It made Todd and I so proud that Taylor not only knows the importance of Ann’s profession, but admires her and loves her as much as we do. So Ann, you may have had a rough last shift, but just know that there is a little girl who admires you so much for being a community helper (and a good friend). In case you wanted to know what a hero looks like through a 4 year old’s eyes, here it is: ambulance and stethoscope included.