As
I think about items I read in the course text over the past couple of weeks, I
am hoping that the situation I share is one of advocacy. I began working in the
preschool I am now last year in January. This year around October or November I
had a little girl come into my class. Through the first couple weeks she was
there I learned that mom only worked on
the weekend and dad had just started working a full time job through the week.
Mom shared with me that she was concerned her children would not have a
Christmas. I happen to know someone who ‘adopts’ a family for Christmas and
asked if a family had already been selected and was told no. So I shared the
situation of the family of the little girl in my classroom. Her family was
adopted for Christmas, the little girl in my class and her two brothers each
received a new coat, two outfits, and two toys apiece using a list I asked for
from the mom. The parent in my class was thrilled, I received pictures and the
children were excited, and the individual I know was pleased the gifts went to
a good home.
Hi Heidi,
ReplyDeleteKudos, to you for using your resources to help a family in need. I think that that was a very admirable gesture for you to inquire about the family being adopted for Christmas. As an early childhood educator we see this kind of stressful situations from parents all the time. Although, it's not written in our physical job description, but we know that as an advocate for children, we also advocate for the entire family, because whatever affects the family affects the child too.
Heidi,
ReplyDeleteThis is such a heart-warming story. My organization is part of a hospital which adopts families every year who are in need just like this. Last year I brought the gifts to a family to help with their transportation and it was such a blessing to be able to see the appreciation the family had. It is reassuring to know that there are many others that truly will take time to ease the lives of another. Even with all of the violence and crime that occurs in the world, there is still hope that peace and compassion will one day prevail over all things.
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”
― Mother Teresa
What you did for that family was wonderful. Sometime it's the little things that make life so worth it. That was probably the most meaningful Christmas for the parents because someone took interest in their family and did something that made their children so happy.
ReplyDelete