September 11, 2008
Melinda stays close at hand as her little girl climbs up the slide.
"She's very independent. She thinks she's older," Melinda says of the determined 16-month-old. When the youngster makes an attempt to stand on top of the slide, her mom quickly and gently intervenes. "She doesn't understand gravity," Melinda says with a smile as her daughter whines in protest.
Melinda is dedicated to her little girl, the baby she fought to keep, the daughter she's determined to raise to the best of her ability.
It almost didn't happen, though. When Melinda's daughter was three months old, she was taken away by the Children's Aid Society. Melinda was outraged by a move she felt was unfair. She sought help from First Nations authorities and got her baby back 22 hours later, but part of the deal was that she look into getting some help with parenting skills.
A family friend suggested Melinda check out the N'Amerind Friendship Centre, an organization that receives funding from the United Way, for the programs she would need.
Melinda rhymes off a whole bunch of programs that she participated in at N'Amerind and later other agencies either on her own or with her daughter. They include a parenting course, one-on-one counselling, cooking, moccasin-making, swimming, dressmaking, nutrition and regalia-making.
"They're just like refresher stuff. I already knew (some). There's some new stuff from the health unit. There are always new studies coming out," Melinda says.
The programs have been such a boon for both of them that mom and daughter still attend some long after CAS was involved. Melinda continues to expand her skills as a parent and her daughter plays with friends.
"She's my life and together we're going to make it," Melinda says.
Strengthening families is one of United Way of London & Middlesex's priorityareas. Learn more.
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