What Child Is This?

Some people were complaining about the screaming children at the Mission. Oh, wait, that was me.

The power of a mother to tune out her puling children is not unique to the inner city. (Pule just happens to be the Word of the Day today!)

Before being too hard on the families that live here, think about this interesting, yet annoying fact. Each phone call I make or receive from my child-rearing friends always has screaming kids or moms in the conversation. Every single time. I am talking about kids ages 10 and under.

So, try living communally, pulled right from your ugly life on the streets. Not a friend or care in the world except your next fix or high. Suddenly you are immersed in this dormitory with three other women who are also coming off their street life.

They are crabby and tired and totally confused! Add kids to the mix who are just SOOO happy mommy is getting the help she needs. The children love the Mission. They are transformed emotionally and behaviourally here.

But, kids are kids. They just sound louder when there's more of them! I am so thankful for each one of the kids living at the Mission right now. They are all special in their own way. There is the baby that was born upstairs in the dorms, his little sister who knocks on my office door several times a day to come and play with the office toys, and then there are the two older boys who like to help around the office or borrow craft supplies on the weekends.

How blessed we were three years ago to get this building that allows us to house women with children. We truly are making a difference.