BLOG/GALLERIES
Mission Moment: Field Trip Breakfast
Submitted by peterdoliber on Mon, 08/30/2010 - 5:43pmMission Moment: First Day, First Breakfast.
Today we had to switch up our schedule. We had so many kids here for breakfast that we had to take a field trip from our early learning center to the lunch room. For most kids it was a great adventure. But for one little one, it was just too much. Dropped off by mom, room of strangers, hungry, and now having to walk to a whole another place to eat.
The cry was pitiful and the sobs deep with an occasional stop to try and catch her breath.
Up into the arms, head on the shoulder, gentle pats to back and we're okay.
Mission Moment: Time Out
Submitted by peterdoliber on Tue, 08/24/2010 - 9:19amAs summer camp ends, its good to reflect on how the kids have grown. One 9 year old boy who came to us with 3-5 all out tantrums daily, just stopped by the office. "Mr. Peter, I was about to get really mad so I asked the teacher for time out. I just need a minute. Then I'll go back." Progress.
Mission Moment: Corday
Submitted by peterdoliber on Wed, 08/18/2010 - 5:01pmOn a Mr. Peter power walk from my office to childcare and back to put out another fire. Mind focused on searching for smoke for the next crisis I pass a group of 4 year olds headed to dance class. "Mr. Peter! Mr. Peter!" A mental sigh, a slapped on smile and a "Yes Corday?" "I just want to tell you I love you!" Okay. Note to self. Reality Check!
Mission Moment: Fire Alarms and God
Submitted by peterdoliber on Tue, 08/17/2010 - 9:53amOne of the 3's pulled the fire alarm. Good news, everyone out in under 45 seconds. But our kids are taught that only adults can pull the alarms. So off I go to the 3's to speak sternly to the offender and the class. Squatting down looking at him square in the face I ask, "Who is the only one who can pull a fire alarm?" With tears staining his puffy cheeks he looks up at me and with a questioning voice says, "God?". I couldn't stifle the laugh and the teaching moment evaporated!
Mission Moment: Fighting from the bottom
Submitted by peterdoliber on Fri, 08/13/2010 - 9:17amPoverty. Poor. At-Risk. Living in poverty. Working poor. Underachiever. Not meeting standards. Unteachable. Single parent home. Foster child. ADD. ADHD. Behavior problem.
Imagine entering life with weight of those labels.
No one wants pity.
No one wants to be ignored.
No one wants judgement.
But when you are judged, labeled, pitied and forgotten you become angry. And the energy of that anger overwhelms. You either shut down or never shut up.
Mission Moment: Overcoming Stereotypes
Submitted by peterdoliber on Wed, 08/11/2010 - 4:37pmPlease look at the link below. It is about the recent tragedy in Shreveport where 6 children drowned. They were all Black, and this is not a coincidence of fate. There is a deeper reason.
It is the reason we are working hard to teach our kids to swim and are starting a swim team.
It's not about recreation. It's about saving lives and pushing back on years of internalized unfounded stereotypes.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-08-07/the-louisiana-...
The Way We Were
Submitted by peterdoliber on Sat, 08/07/2010 - 12:10pm
These are pictures going back to when the West Broad Street YMCA was founded. Do you see anyone you know? Let us know!
Mission Moment: Falling Fruit
Submitted by peterdoliber on Sat, 08/07/2010 - 11:56amEvery child that enters our doors is unique and special to us. They all come from different families and experiences. Some of them bring some baggage with them. And some, well, they just come over packed!
We sometimes know the circumstances but most often we don't. And we don't want to know. Because it makes it easier for us to not place any prejudgment on a kid. Levels the playing field.
Mission Moment: Self Respect
Submitted by peterdoliber on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 1:34pmChecking in the 10 and up boys today. Asking them about camp, this summer, what they've liked and what they've learned. Most kids shouted out "pool", "basketball", "library", "computer" and the like. And one young man looked at me and said "self respect."
"What does that mean?"
"When you feel good enough about yourself to treat someone else nice too."
That about sums it up. Progress!
Mission Moment: Our Kids Aren't Crabs
Submitted by peterdoliber on Tue, 07/27/2010 - 11:55amA casual visitor remarked about the kids we work with. "Like crabs in a pot" he said. Asking for clarification, he said, "When you put live crabs in a pot and one tries to crawl out the others will pull it back."
"What does that have to do with our kids?"
"You spend all this time trying to get them to change and they won't. They'll just pull each other back down. Really, I think you are just waisting your time. They'll never change."
I wasn't sure whether to be angry at him or to feel sorry for him.
