Understanding Poverty?

Yesterday Caroline said we were going to church, but that didn't happen. We got up and around, and I was ready to go, and we just never left, and no one made any more to go, so I didn't say anything.

The instructions for the community stay was to see what life was like for a 'child-headed-household'. We weren't supposed to do too much, just try to fit into their life, and so I wanted to go with the flow. I did bring a small bottle of bubble soap and so Bonnie loved it when I blew the bubbles for her. Squeals and laughter every time I blew the bubble. She enjoyed making them too. A friend of her joined us for a while, and then they ran off together so as Caroline was reading a book, I sat down on the ground near her and read my book.

I'm finding this book very fascinating, "Understanding Poverty". I really want to read and discuss it with somebody. It's about poverty in the US but I'm sure there are many similarities to poverty that Caroline lives with and poverty in cities and in third world countries. I wonder if the same strategies would help? I have so many thoughts in my head about the book, who can I discuss this with??

Caroline continued reading for hours. Bonnie and I ate lunch, then played some more. I got out my little note pad and gave her dotted lines for her to trace to practice her fine motor skills. She was so cute, I just couldn't teach her much because we couldn't speak the same language so she didn't understand my instruction. We sat close to each other on the bed, with her writing on my lap, it was a precious time. I've kept the pages in my notebook and love looking at them.

At one point I shared the pictures of my family that I had brought with me with Bonnie, and thought maybe sharing them with Caroline would be a good conversation starter, so I took them to her. She looked through them briefly but then gave them back and went back to her reading. I asked her what she was reading, it was a book for school. She wants to be a doctor she says.

I played with Bonnie until the car came to pick me up. Bonnie didn't want to give me a hug, I think her Mom hadn't told her when I was leaving so it was a surprise, and she was angry at me. I will miss her a lot. Wish I could take her with me. I have so much love to give and no kids to give it to.

Enjoyed being back in my own bed, and being able to turn the lights off at night. The darkness is soothing.