by: Phyllis Elizabeth Holloway
Step By Step is an invaluable program for the young mothers and children that allow the organization to transform their lives. I have volunteered twice with Step By Step and I have already fallen completely in love with what this program is doing. During one night of our time there, the mothers each received a rose. This showed me just how much this program understands the need to show these young mothers how much they are loved. They may not have received this kind of love much before, but you can definitely count on Step By Step to show them and their children an abundance of love.
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| Here are the roses with a bit of encouragement attached. Here's the link! |
In my time of volunteering, most of my time has been with older children; however, the baby room was highly understaffed and I was recruited to help them out. Being an only child, I have yet to change my first diaper. When I was recruited to go to the baby room, I thought, "Oh boy, today's the day." I made it out alive, and I still haven't changed that first diaper. Baby steps.
The walk to the baby room was a little nerve-wracking. I was so nervous I would have a child that would not stop crying, and that I would feel absolutely helpless not knowing what the child needed or wanted. Thankfully, I was taken to a little play room and I got to play with a young boy around one to two years old. He was so dazzled when I showed him the basketball hoop. I first showed him how the ball would go into the hoop. Then, it was his turn. He continued to put the ball into the hoop and cheer with me, giggling at every move we made. Changing from working with four year olds, this was so strange. Not being able to verbally communicate with the child was a new experience for me, but I think I learned as quickly as the young boy. In my time at Step By Step I may have created a future Wildcat basketball star.
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| You're welcome, Big Blue Nation. Here's the link! |
Great post, Phyllis Elizabeth!
ReplyDeleteStep by Step sounds like an incredible organization that does great work for this community. I was wondering, however, what the mothers do while their kids are playing. Do they bond with each other? Once again, you're doing great work!
Thanks so much, Cam!
DeleteStep by Step is making a huge difference in the community! Since the volunteers are hanging out with the kids, the mothers get to go take a break. During this time, they get to talk to one another, worship, and just take some time to be the young people that they are. Since these women have children, most of them don't have the opportunity to just talk to friends. Step by Step gives each of them an opportunity to gain those friendships. It is a definitely a bonding experience for each of them. They also have different speakers, singers, etc. come in to give them something new and exciting.
Hey Phyllis Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteI know it is kind of strange to choose to comment on an old post, but I was looking through your tag and this post really stuck out to me because of your comments about how important it is to show these young mothers that they are loved. I believe that demonstrating love to someone is one of the greatest things one can do, so reading about an organization that knows the importance of that is really uplifting to me. Have you continued to see this focus throughout your time working with Step by Step this semester? Thank you for sharing!