Children at the YWCA

The kids at the YWCA were...so much fun. It was fun to go see them in their element and it was definitely a special treat when we got to see them eat lunch. They were rowdy and rambunctious but listened when spoken to. Well, most of the time. It was difficult to see how the daycare providers managed them; I would say that was the most difficult part of the hours we had to complete. The way that they were spoken to...almost belittled...it made me sad. There was one nice woman who worked at the facility but I never had the opportunity to catch her name. She always called the children "baby" or "sweetheart" or pet names along those lines. She was always so sweet and so kind and so loving towards these children who probably need love the most. She was the only one who didn't screech and holler at them and make them cry over a spilled salad. It broke my heart that these children may go their entire childhood without feeling the love I felt as a child from my dedicated parents. No matter where that love may come from, every child should experience that. The children tended to be rambunctious but what child isn't? They were great with schedules and always followed the directions given, with the exception of tying a shoe before going to the bathroom. The smaller children (most of them, anyway) listened better but I think that was because that was the most direction they had throughout the day and they knew better than to disobey.
 Jess and I went together every time and worked with the smaller children twice and worked with the big kids for the remainder of our hours. We mostly talked to Israel, Jaslynn, Jocelyn and Christopher. I watched Chris and Israel play "Make 7" and even played a few rounds with them. I was no good. Chris beat me every time. Israel liked to talk a lot and was best friends with Anthony. Anthony runs the fastest in their grade but Israel was a close second. It was interesting listening to them talk, they spoke perfect English to Jess and myself but then they would talk to one another and slip into their colloquial slang. "Psh mayne why you gotta go and lie on me like that" That phrase is something I caught from Israel when he was talking to Anthony. They were great children to work with and unintentionally quite hilarious.
I loved seeing those kids and wished that I could take them under my wing and nurture them myself. I wish that I could get to know them better and spend more time with them. They were so much fun and I wish I had more opportunities to be with them.