Annette Naake

>teenage mother myself, so I think I have a lot to give to people in
> >such a situation. But what I want to do and what works for our
> >family are 2 different things :-(
>
>There is a lifetime ahead of you Tracy, wait until your children are older,
>give all to them now. You will have so much more to give in ten years time.
>We really do want to do everything NOW, don't we? The problem isn't going
>to go away.<SNIP>

I've been following this thread with interest... I don't think you have to
wait to help other mothers or even do something as formal and time-consuming
as volunteering regularly in a teen mothers' home. If people are looking for
guidance, they will join a group, like La Leche or a playgroup, or attend a
mom-and-tot type program. Sometimes they just turn up at the park, longing
for another mom to talk to. You can do a lot just by being an experienced
mother and a good listener. Just by modeling patient, loving, responsive
parenting, sympathizing with their woes by telling stories about how you
survived sleepless nights or nursing strikes or the terrible twos, you can
give younger moms confidence and hope and an example to follow. I have
learned a lot in situations like this, as a new mom. And in turn, I have
tried to offer suggestions -- when asked -- and model the type of parenting
I believe in when I'm in those situations.

I applaud your urge to help others, and I have a feeling that just by being
you and taking your children out in public, you are doing more good than you
know.

Annette


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Tracy Oldfield

Why thank you! I know that there are opportunities to help others
in other ways, I am a LLL Leader Applicant myself, for one thing
<g> But this is just a pet idea of mine, that think needs tackling,
as I said, before I become 'irrelevant,' to such folk. I'm not even
talking about volunteering in a 'teen mums home,' I don't think
they even exist around here! But I am considering contacting the
local Social Services dept (very, very carefully, even though our
council is friendly to home-ed) to see who and what services are
there for teenage parents, and whether one could get involved.

Thank you everyone for the encouragement, it is something I've
thought about ever since I started my family.

Tracy

On 4 Jul 2000, at 16:25, Annette Naake wrote:

I've been following this thread with interest... I
don't think you have to 
wait to help other mothers or even do something as
formal and time-consuming 
as volunteering regularly in a teen mothers' home. If
people are looking for 
guidance, they will join a group, like La Leche or a
playgroup,