I held and rocked a newborn baby girl today. I was in heaven! She must have been a preemie; at 2 months old she is all of 10 pounds, so tiny, so petite, so beautiful. As I sat in the nursery and rocked her I felt sad. I felt sad for her and I felt sad for her Mommy. Mommy seems fine. She's easy going, says the baby is low maintenance and goes to work with a smile on her face. Baby is also fine, she doesn't know any better. She cuddled and relaxed with me, perfectly content. But, she isn't cuddling with her Mommy and Mommy is missing these wonderful moments.
One of the little school-age girls has attached herself to me. She held my hand for the longest time, making sure I wasn't going to get away from her. She jumped in my lap and told me she wanted to go home with me and eat dinner and have ice cream. We talked about the field trip from the previous week and how she got to walk around with me. I reminded her of the good time we had and how much she "loved it". She giggled and said, " I didn't love it, I loved being with you". Coming from an unstable home environment, she is starved for motherly affection and is looking for that in me. My heart was broke.
I met with a grandmother today, while her priceless grandchildren played. They come to day care, 5 days a week. Not too long ago, the state took them from their mother and placed them in protective care. Several family members tried to get them, but grandmother was the only one who passed the criminal background check. In her late 50's and widowed, she's raising them, alone. She loves them, they are properly cared for, clean and their needs are met. But, even grandma complains that it's too much for her. She referred to her son AND the children's parents as "scum of the earth".
I wrote a letter today, to a young, single mom who has not been paying her bill. If she doesn't pay her bill, we cannot continue to offer services. She's a hard worker, trying to make ends meets and raise her son alone. There is no one to call "Dad". When she found out she was expecting she made an adoption plan through Catholic Charities. But, when her baby was born, she couldn't let go.
I spoke to a silly two-year old today about our friends and how we need to call them by their real name. He's into "name calling". He has a different name for each child in the class, even some for the teachers. He called me "piggy". ;) Another teacher was called "coconut head".
I came home feeling sad for the children. Then I began to wonder if I am using my God given talents to the fullest degree. Am I making a difference in the lives of these children? I need to do some "thinking".......
I have been given the opportunity to touch so many hearts. God has been so good. My center is a blessing and a gift from Him. For that, I am thankful.
