From the age of six until age eighteen, I was raised in a multigenerational home. The tiny house was home to me, my mother, brother, and grandparents. It was a tight fit for all of us in this two bedroom bungalow on the outskirts of Los Angeles. We shared bedrooms, one bathroom, a television, and one house phone. We had no secrets from each other. How could we have secrets we had no space? We shared more than a house; we shared a life together, all the good and bad, laughter and tears, battles and victories. It wasn’t perfect, but few things in this world hold that title. It is my heritage. We all have a story and this is a large part of mine.
During this time wedged into this house I learned things. I learned what makes my brother mad and what makes him laugh. I learned how to french braid my own hair and wash my clothes. I learned the correct way to open and close doors without making a lot of noise, it was close quarters and my Grandmother liked her peace. (I can’t blame her really…she deserved some peace).
I learned how to make her famous cornbread stuffing recipe for Thanksgiving dinner. I still make this recipe and every time I mix it and smell the sweet aroma I think of her. These are things we learn in this life, and often take for granted, but many children in foster care are never taught the basic life skills. They are not shown how to make cornbread stuffing from scratch. Many times children leave the foster care system without the basic life skills like balancing a checkbook, cooking a healthy dinner, or washing their clothes.
The Life Skills program at A Family For Every Child is designed to teach these skills to foster children. Our Life Skills program is an exciting service that we offer to our children in the mentor program. It provides foster children with important information in a fun and inviting way!
We pair mentors with youth who work on developing life skills together. Mentors and mentees are offered a curriculum that includes information on how to handle one’s finances, healthcare, cooking, and more. This program will better prepare children who are at risk of “aging out” of foster care and living on their own. These classes in conjunction with the mentors’ support will aid in the success of each child becoming a self sufficient adult.
“Image courtesy of {stockimages}/FreeDigitalPhotos.net”
