Swimming at the Pond

This morning there was a knock at the door. It was a peppy volunteer named Danielle delivering a dictated note from Treisi/Treisy. (I have seen both spellings of her name, not sure.) It read:

"I am glad you are here. I would like to invite you to the pond for swimming this morning. Will you come back at Christmas? I want to spend a lot of time with you. I would like to play games and draw with you. Will you sit by me at mass on Sunday?

I met her at the muddy pond and "muddy-water filled" cement pool. There were at least 100 kids there of all ages, including about ten kids in wheelchairs and the boys with degrees of, what appears to be, autism. I have to say that I am surprised by the love shared among them. I am incredibly touched by it. They truly do bond as family it seems and NPH will never take just one sibling. They take all or none and the kids are never adopted. I think that gives the kids a sense of permanence and makes the bonding easier. The "tias" (caregivers) are either returning orphans (fulfilling their year/s of required service) or hired help from the outside. I am amazed by the warmth. The way they expressive it is something I wish everyone could see.

It was fun to see the kids carry bags and bushels of food to the swimming "posa" this morning. They worked together to peel mangos, mix cornmeal and butter for tamales and build a fire. They arranged themselves into group activities with no help whatsoever from the adults present. They didn't need the help!

Four games, one puzzle, water, a soccer ball, and amigas/amigos kept these kids smiling, relaxing, and being kind to each other all day. (Granted, I have heard they battle it out as well.)
On the way back from the "swimming party," I noticed one little boy picking corn as an adult supervised. I wondered if he was receiving a consequence for something.

I am curious about how they manage behaviors, their school, the trade workshops offered for teens, the University and well just about everything. It is so great to be an observer and not the teacher right now!

Just a madrinas lucky enough to be invited to the pond this morning.