Week five was a mix of all that I’ve been doing for the Dream Center these past couple weeks. Monday, I spent my day in the office working on the upcoming fundraising event in September. At first, it was somewhat overwhelming to be trusted with seemingly important tasks, especially those relating to fundraising for the Dream Center. While this was out of the ordinary for me, I have realized it has helped me to meet high expectations with hard work and a determined attitude. I admit that I was initially super anxious about having to meet with other businesses and act as an advocate for the Dream Center. I didn’t think I was qualified enough and that I would let them down. However, I had to complete the tasks given to me nonetheless and realized that it was not about me. I learned the value of believing in yourself as well as learning to accept rejection at times. Being rejected did initially feel as if I had failed, but it certainly prepared me for harder moments to come. My skin thickened, and I learned to accept it with grace and move forward.
I continued to work on the fundraiser on Tuesday, and then Wednesday, I helped out with our summer program, Summer is for Kids, and our weekly community night at Preston Taylor. Wednesday nights are seriously some of my favorites of the summer. Despite it being beyond hot, everyone is always so eager to be in each other’s presence and have fun, whether it be kids, volunteers, or staff. This week, one girl, Maya, very confidently organized a talent show of both volunteers and other kids. While the dance skills may have been lacking, the enthusiasm by everyone was so enjoyable to watch and brightened my week.
Thursday, I helped with Summer is for Kids again and then mobile food that night at Skyview. One of the best parts of my summer has been when I see the kids for the first time that day, and they run up to hug me. I’ve been called “mommy” on enough occasions that I’ve started to answer to it. But seriously, these kids have a soft spot in my heart and constantly teach me joy, generosity, and patience.
Mobile food that night was difficult as kids fought and were generally not being super kind to each other. Having to step into tough situations and alleviate tension is a super tough ask, but I’ve learned that being consistently present with the kids has helped garner some respect. All these boys wanted more than anything was to be loved and appreciated. I’ve learned that sometimes the best remedy is a hug and some tickles. Other times, they just need you to listen and give them your attention. All in all, Thursday taught me the many nuances of conflict and the need to feel heard and seen.
I rounded out the week on a high note with a super fun field trip to Ford Ice Center for pizza and ice skating. Although the kids were pretty far from skating pros at the beginning of the trip, by the end of the day some had mastered it while others had spent more time laughing at themselves and falling all over the place. The bus has never been so quiet as the ride home when just about every kiddo was asleep.
