Mentoring Update
Guess what? I had to leave mentoring a little early today. I have so much work to do and I want to spend as much time with Aiyana before I get busy. Our fifth grade girls will be matched up with a mentor next year.
Fifth grade is the year they start in a group setting, after the first year they move on to one on one mentors and hopefully they’ll be matched throughout highschool. I know some mentors who have continued on that relationship past that time. How cool is that? Some of them have seen their mentees graduate college, start families of their own, and turn around and become mentors to others. I think that is fabulous.
I pretty much know the mentee I want to be paired with compared to the other mentees she doesn’t have as much. Let me rephrase that her mother doesn’t give her as much. I’ve met her mother. She’s very nice. She’s a single mother. She’s not financially able to purchase some of my mentees wants and she doesn’t. I think that is smart. Why purchase something you cannot afford?
I’ve already thought of ways she have her making extra money. She’s very creative so I’ll be passing along the tools I use in my business jewelry making and how I go about creating natural beauty products.
Aiyana and I have playing outside since I arrived home. I told her how busy I am lately and how much I wish I could spend my time with her. I told her I’ll make sure that even if I get bogged down with work. I’ll take regular breaks to hang out with her.
One thing that doesn’t change is our nighttime ritual. I ask her about her days events. I know but I love listening to her. We talk about the upcoming day and then we read. These days she’s the one reading to me.
It takes some time for her to read but I realize that this time is important. I make that time. I listen. We all want someone that gives us their full attention. I want her to know how special she is. She is appreciated.
on May 15th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Sounds like a great program. I love learning more about it! We don’t have anything like that around here only a program where you basically “watch” them for an hour twice a week. I wanted to participate but you aren’t allowed to do anything with them…like library trips, or movies, or sports, etc. Basically just help them with homework and make sure they stay out of trouble. Don’t get me wrong that is good too but not what I would call being involved and making a difference in their lives to the fullest extent. Your program sounds exceptional!
on May 15th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Harmonia,
Believe it or not that is being involved more than you know. The majority of our sessions are in the schools library. We meet once weekly for 1.5 hours. You would be amazed at how quickly the children can depend on you.
Everything we as adults do to interact with children positively gives them a positive boost and a positive push in the right direction.
on May 15th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
That organization that I wrote about didn’t really even want you to take them to the library! I would have loved that! I understand the idea of “just being there” and I agree but I always liked the ideas of doing things with them that they might not be able to or are afraid of trying on their own or don’t want to try with their peers…you know…like I said I hope a GOOD program like yours comes to my area!
on May 15th, 2007 at 11:38 pm
The library we are in is their library. In our sessions we sit around a table and talk. That’s it. However we do bring a lot to those sessions. Throughout the week my mentor and I plan what we are going to do. It’s a lot of work. We each alternate. One week I’ll serve as the group leader. The next week she will. There are many kids that want someone to just be there.
I understand your frustration. I’ve served as a mentor where we didn’t go on any trips. Who knows the organization you’re referring to might be open to other things? If you haven’t asked them, ask. :-) If this is something you feel strongly about ty to round up like minded souls and form some type of outreach for children. Just a thought.
I tried to comment on your blog earlier today but your blog is reading my comments as spam. I bet if you check your spam you’ll find my comments on the heap. ;-)
on May 16th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Down the road I might look into our program again. We will see…I should start looking for fall.winter activities…my summer is already packed! haha. I like it tho.
I checked out the spam and there was only 1 comment…but the last one about the Kashi you added didn’t have any problems…strange…hopefully it’s fixed.
My blog was acting a little weird a while ago…it displayed comments under different entries that were originally there for a different entry…haha. I think it’s back to normal tho! thanks for letting me know!