Week #4... Already?!

22 February 2010-Journal #7
Today we started out talking with Sandra at the House. This will be what we do each Monday morning from now on so that we can check in and address any questions or concerns we have. This morning we talked about discipline and how to handle disciplining the kids in a structured manner consistent with how the caregivers are already disciplining the kids. We learned that the best method they have found is to put the kids in time out. When we take them aside we need to sit them in a chair and gently hold their little faces to help them concentrate as we explain why they are in time out and then they have to remain there for a period of time based on their age. For example a 5year old would remain in time out for 5minutes. I hardly use timeouts in the nursery but I think this will be a good strategy.

We also talked to Sandra about our experience in South Africa all together. I learned a lot in this short conversation. She explained to us how important it is that we do not feel guilty when we see the poverty. Even when we are asked by a child for money it is not the right thing to just give it to them because this doesn't teach them what they need to be learning. This was hard to hear but makes sense and is important for me to know.

Once I was actually in the nursery I mainly spent my time playing with Cedriano. Sandra told us that it is okay and good for the kids to have a one on one connection as long as we don't ignore other kids and recognize that we are the ones who will have a harder time with leaving than the kids. I'm willing to take that on if it's good for Cedriano because I really want that little boy to know how wonderful he is and I want to see him smile more! He sat in my lap as we watched the Hannah Montana movie which I really enjoyed! It felt so good to have him cuddle up to me and appear to be comfortable. When the movie ended he continued to sit on my lap and climb on me. Usually the other children do this constantly but Cedriano normally doesn’t so I was glad he was playing more. It seems as if all of the children are becoming more comfortable with us.

I still can't get Cedriano (Cedi) to communicate with words and I want to learn how I can get him to trust me and feel comfortable enough to practice saying words and talking. I also want to learn more about how you sponsor a child at the haven. Since I can't just adopt one of these wonderful children at this point in my life I would like to explore how they get sponsored. Needless to say it was another day full of learning and good times at the House!


23 February 2010-Journal #8
Today was yet another good day at the House. We did the same things we always do in the nursery. Played with the kids, read to them, gave them their tea and biscuit, took them on walks, and watched little movies. We switched things up a little in the end by taking 3 of the children from the nursery over to the play school to play some games. A girl in our group burned a CD with some fun songs that had instructions on what to do throughout the song. The kids really seemed to enjoy it and were actually well behaved and followed along. During my short time in the play school I realized I would like to spend some more time over there because there is only so much that I can help with in the nursery, especially when some of the children start to fall asleep and take mid-morning naps.

I can’t say that I learned many new things today, but I can see that providing more structure for the kids is working well. The music we listened to was really helpful because it was both a game for the kids and a way of teaching them things. Giving timeouts is difficult as it probably will continue to be, but it is proving to be somewhat successful I think. I placed a child in timeout for the first time today and he cried when I set him down in the corner which was such a challenge for me, but the little boy settled down and didn’t misbehave or cry for awhile after that.

From watching how well the kids responded to the sing-a-long CD with its little instructions I learned that they have so much potential! I also saw how much they look out for one another. It was the most interaction I have seen the nursery kids have with the play school kids and they do know one another well and seem to look out for each other which was really beautiful to watch. Cedi was one of the kids we brought to the playschool. He didn’t really do the actions the CD was calling for but he did seem to enjoy watching the bigger kids.

Next week we will get a chance to see the hospital where these kids go and where many of them came from and I know this will be a big learning experience. I hope to learn more about where the funds come from that pay for the children’s hospital bills and what kind of training the staff at the hospital has. I grew up in Rochester, MN where the Mayo Clinic is located. Mayo is known worldwide for the excellent facilities and doctors it has and it’s the only hospital environment that I’ve ever been exposed to so I imagine it will be a lot for me to take in.