Rent-A-Kid, Rent-A-Family

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

If you haven’t gone out and gotten yourself a Little Sister since my last post on the subject, I may as well remind you to do so now. There are little kids WAITING to play with you. They come in all sizes, ages, and colors. Mine is small and bilingual. Her likes are:

  • Baking cakes at my house
  • Chuck E. Cheese
  • Writing stories
  • Sparkly pink things

So really, it’s an easy job, being a Big Sister.

Today I took Elizabeth and her REAL sister, Yanira, to the mall. I thought it would be fun to get our nails done. Well…it WAS fun! Everyone got pink sparkly nails (please see the list above).

The girls were a little bit difficult to spoil. Because they know what things cost and when you say, “Would you like one of these?” They say, “It’s too expensive!”

Then you say, “Well, I can get it for you today if you want,” And they say, “But will you still have any money left over for yourself?”

I think I was a pretty good kid, but I remember myself as being much more selfish and materialistic. Or maybe I just didn’t have to care what things cost.

Anyway, you can’t spend a lot of money on a Little Sister or her family because it can make people uncomfortable. But I did manage to get them each a t-shirt for “back to school.” And a Barbie, which I was careful to point out was ON SALE for $9.99.

Then when I took them home, I got invited to a Festival Latino! Woo hoo! So I went back later and listened to some Latino Music with Elizabeth’s family. Apparently they love me and find me irresistable. I know this because they tell me so. They sometimes send me home with giant pots of tamales. A sure sign of love.

So when I signed up to get Elizabeth, I got this whole nifty family! And now I have friends that I never would have met if I hadn’t borrowed their kid!

L

2

It’s a very good thing you do, SexyWriter. I just can’t…kids make me nuts (including my 7YO sister and 4YO nephew). But I so admire those who can do that…I really do.

I am thinking very seriously about volunteering at my local rape-crisis center, though…I think everyone should try to do what they can. Up till now, it’s mostly been monetary contributions to charities, but I’d like to do more…give a little of my time and my self.

3

That’s so weird, because I used to volunteer at a rape crisis center/women’s shelter. I did it for years. Then when I moved to the Boston area, I decided to do something with kids instead.

But I do have to say, while I enjoy getting compliments as much as the next person, I feel a little silly when people tell me what a “good person” I am for getting a Little Sister. Because it’s so NOT hard work. Every week I have an excuse to color.

It might be different for some people who get more difficult kids, or kids with more challenging family situations. But in my case, I just take this beautiful little girl out to do something fun. And it’s always fun for me. She tells me the most hilarious stories, she draws me pictures in school…I haven’t put myself out one bit!

In fact, it’s quite the contrary: I’m the one who’s gained from this relationship. I’ve learned things about family bonds, about other cultures (Elizabeth’s family lived in El Salvador during the civil war and I was quite shocked by what they went through), about myself.

You don’t have to like kids to be a good person anyway! And if you DO like kids, you don’t have to be that “good” to volunteer to play with them for a few hours a week. The rape crisis work is much more challenging. It can be VERY difficult…hard to deal with and hard to leave behind you when you’re through with your shift. You’re the bomb! Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

L

4

You know, I’ve thought about doing this. My concern is that (knowing myself like I do) I’d either lose interest or not like the kid or over commit myself and then I’d hurt some poor kids feelings.

I’ve always been one to profess a deep - oh - loathing of children. But that’s really just to keep people from asking me to babysit. Some of them can be pretty cool. I’m really afraid I won’t get one like that. That would suck.

I’m glad you opened this thread - I hope you don’t mind my asking you questions. What do you do when you’re assigned a kid you just don’t click with?

5

A friend of mine was paired with a little girl that she just couldn’t warm up to. She went to the social worker who matched them and was re-assigned. Since then, she and her Little Sister have been friends for three years and they are great friends. So I don’t think it’s a really big deal if it doesn’t work out the first time.

6

I sort of do have a Little Sister, which is something quite rare for a male.

See, my half sister’s dad has been out of contact since she was 2 1/2. I see her every couple months or so, and it took the longest time for her to stop calling my Daddy :frowning:

I’d visit more if I could, but the town I spent my teenage years in sucks the life out of me and makes me depressed to be there :frowning:

I’d get my nails done for her :slight_smile: