Daily Struggle:
Around 1pm I walked into the nursery for the first time all day. I walked into a scene of disarray, heat, and fear when I found Anthony, one of the babies in a pool of his own sweat, covered from head to toe in his own condensation, with drops of water pouring off of his little head. It was one of those moments when your heart drops into your knees and you feel like a pack of mexican jumping beans has been poured into your stomach. I had an innate gut feeling that something was wrong. The moment I saw him I scooped him up and gave him a cold bath, washed him down and changed his clothes.This whole time my focus was solely on Anthony. Once my heart returned to normal I took a look around. Every kid, unless he or she was directly in the path of one of the two oscillating ceiling fans, had soaked through their clothes in their own sweat. Anthony's sweating was no new sight at this time of year. Elin and I drove straight to the hardware store after work and bought two additional oscillating ceiling fans. To be installed tomorrow. Daily Triumphs:
The photo wall is up and hung and permanently now a part of marigold. After countless hours of cutting out little hands and foot prints, meticulously punching holes and threading yarn through construction paper to tie them all together, we created a web of love for the children and staff. A tangible reminder of the unity that remains at Marigold. A cornerstone in all that they do. The different colors of yarn represent the differences and the individuality of the children; the sheer volume of diversity that lies in the dna of 37 children.
As I sat on my butt this afternoon, bent over photos, tying each individual corner together, sweating and aching, everything kinda hurt. The little kids who are too young for school were running over it and through it and pulling things.. except Anna who docilely helped us pick up stray pieces of yarn and puff balls. In return she got bracelets and a necklace, which she couldn't seem to keep out of her hands.
An hour later, I forgot about all the work and toil that went into stringing together that beautiful photo wall as the children stormed in from school. They screamed and laughed, jumped and lifted each other up in joy to see their faces. I have never seen the kids more happy as a collective whole.The laughter was infectious. Smiling workers encircled the jumping screaming children. It will be a moment to remember.
This morning, we began working on a paper mache solar system along with friendship bracelets! We were lucky enough to have a group traveling from Elin's high school there to help the kids work on their craft. The kids loved it, and when I say love, I really mean were obsessed with the craft. On one table we had newspaper with bowls of glue and strips of newspaper to do the shell of their "planets." Painting will ensue after we have formed the cavities of the 8 planets. Then we will connect them all later this week as we do a lesson about the solar system! On the other table, we set up bowls with letter beads and plain beads for bracelets and necklaces. There was struggle to get the children to spell their names or to even want their names on the bracelets.. for some it was a matter of just identifying letters and being so thrilled to string a bead onto a stretchy string. joy. Its the small victories that matter.
The workers expressed a bountiful thanks today for all of our hard work with the kids over the last three weeks. They even fed us lunch last week (an honor considering only staff eats cooked lunch), Elin and I felt loved and appreciated.
FRIDAY FUN DAY! Moon Bounce. Day of crafts. Sports. Relay races. Mothers donated cocktail Patties for lunch. Cake. Cupcakes. Fruit Punch.
Went to go see Sex and the City 2 on Sunday. It was wild to be in a movie theater in Kingston, watching Sex and the City. At the end of the movie, I had forgotten where I was. Although quickly reminded, it really cemented the feeling of truly living here. Going grocery shopping, having a gym, running, and going to see a movie are by-products of feeling settled and safe.
Lastly, food. Last night we made hummus from scratch. (SO EASY and SO DELICIOUS). Will be posting the recipe of that shortly. Along with the most delectable, enjoyable, "hits all 5 of your taste buds good" chicken soup ever invented. I know its a hefty claim but follow the recipe, we won't disappoint. And if we do, then you didn't make it right!
Oddly enough and completely unexpectedly, today was a magical day. Something about the combination of ills and brilliant joys made for the best day in Kingston yet. Peaceful, empowering, inspiring.
keep it irie,
tkm
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