Child in need

Imagine how busy a mother of four children ages 8 to 13 is. Preparing meals, doing laundry, attending school activities, mending cuts and scrapes, settling sibling squabbles. Now imagine that same mother raising those children without a husband. Limited money, limited time, limited emotional support. Yes, it is hard to imagine this difficult task

Trudy has been doing the best job she can in raising her family after the death of her husband two years ago. She has friends and relatives who help. She recently reached out to Kinship Partners to help too. It is hard to admit you can't do it all. It is scary to trust that a community program like Kinship will provide safe, caring people to befriend the children. But she has reached out. She has put her trust in the process that Kinship Partners goes through to screen, train and monitor the matches between children and adult volunteers. And so now the task begins for the Kinship staff to recruit mentors for each of these four children.

Billy is 13 and in the 7th grade. He loves to build things from wood ride bike, fish and participate in Special Olympics. He has trouble in school and finds it hard to concentrate. He'd like a guy to spend time with him so he's have time away from his siblings.

Joshua is next in line. He's 12 and is outgoing and friendly. Josh is doing well in school and has lots of friends. His wish for a mentor: "A guy who is adventurous, rides four wheelers, and doesn't smoke."

The third brother is Martin. Marty is a sensitive kid. He worries about his family and wishes he were smarter. He's worried about war. Marty tends to be introspective and buries himself in video games. His wish for a mentor is someone who will play Nintendo. What he really needs is a man or a young couple who will draw him out and do active things with him.

The youngest member of this family is 8-year-old Missy. She's a happy-go-lucky child. She prefers quiet activities and tends to be shy around adults. Missy would thrive with the special attention of a young woman who would dote on her, take her shopping and out to eat, spend time at the library, or go rollerblading. Missy needs time away from her busy, "boy-filled" family.

Each of these children has a special need that a Kinship Partner can fill. Your phone call to say, Yes, I'd like to be a mentor, will make their day. Want to know more about Kinship Partners? Check out the Web site www.brainerd.com/kinship. If you want to know more about one of Trudy's kids call the nearest Kinship Partners office: Brainerd, 829-5606, ; or Pequot Lakes, 568-4015.

All of us remember a person in our lives who changed us forever. Your decision to be a Kinship Partner can make you that special person to a child.