A Day in the Life of a Lorena

“And what do you do?” Although this question is probably one of the most ambiguous questions that we spring upon people when first meeting them, it is nonetheless a social norm. And although technically in response to that question we could answer anything from “breathe” to “sometimes I sprint through fields of fruitloops,” we generally respond with our current occupation or career. When I am asked that question these days, I will respond with something along the lines of “I volunteer at an organization called Roots & Wings.” Which is true. But many people have wondered in response that, “yes, but what do you actually do?” This is a valid question, which I will now attempt to answer...  

My Mexican alter ego carries the name Lorena. And if you're interested, this is what she does on a typical weekday.

At about 5 o’clock a.m. Lorena and her husband greet the new day, and begin it with a walk with their dog. Throw in some “getting ready for work” stuff, and a half hour car ride, and you’ll find Lorena at Roots & Wings around 6:30, prepping for the day, and waiting for the first child to arrive. As soon as that first little human appears, bathing and hygiene procedures begin.

“Hygiene procedures” for children living in a community outside a dump, where many homes don’t have running water, is often more involved than simply washing hands and wiping a nose or two. We scrub ‘em from head to toe, clean their ears out, clip their nails, brush their teeth, check for/remove lice, and (at least for the girls) generally top it all off with a tail of some kind. We do ponytails, pigtails, goattails… basically whatever will best secure their hair; from Daniela’s impending ‘fro to Juliedt’s wispy tendrils, and everything in between.

After Lorena is finished with her hygiene duties, her duty at active-play ensues. During this time she might chase balls (or children who are chasing balls), dance like a crocodile, or merely make sure there are no head-on collisions as energetic children race enthusiastically in all directions. Then comes snack time.

Snack time is kind of a special time in the day. Of course, fresh fruit or veggies to eat are the main attraction for the kids, but this is one of three times during the day in which essentially all staff and kids at Roots & Wings come together in the same room. While nothing particularly epic happens (excepting the time I heard one of our hitherto rather silent baby girls say her first full sentence, exclaimed in a voice raised far above all the others, “I want to eat!”), this time together creates a kind of community and solidarity. It’s like the family dinner around the table that brings together the busy days of the whole family, if only for a bit.

After snack, comes bathroom-ing. Lorena whisks children away one by one from their dance-and-music time to make sure nobody is slipping on a wet floor while engrossed in a particularly fervent dance move. The struggle comes when certain children seem physically incapable of keeping their hips still as long as they can still hear the music. Potties and diapers are not conducive to dancing toddlers.  

From then until lunch, Lorena and her splendid coworker tag-team it with the kids who are under the age of three. Bible class is led skillfully by Rosario who keeps the kids entranced as she vividly tells stories from the Bible. A creative/craft time follows, leading into an education block, in which colours, animals, emotions, opposites, and all kinds of educational things are made into lessons and games. Discovery time, perhaps the favourite part of the day for some of the little ones, comes next. Discovery can come in many forms, from an especially scientific baking-soda-and-vinegar experiment, to something as simple as letting the babies poke an egg yolk for the first time.    

[A not so brief and not super relevant side note: I say this might be the babies’ favourite part of the day, but I think it’s actually mine. There is something exceedingly blissful in seeing small children discover or experience something new. I think most of the time I’m giggling as much as they are as they explore via touch, smell, sight and even taste. There’s something amazing in the simplicity of their wonder and excitement (cue Adventures in Odyssey music). I would encourage everyone to go find a small child right now (preferably one you know), and help them experience something new. Do it. You won’t regret it. Or maybe you will. It depends. Don’t take them skydiving or do anything that involves too much sugar.]

Lunch time. What else is there to say? Lorena helps feed hungry little kids. It's another highlight of the day. What follows is, of course, naptime.

And then the toddler and baby workers can breathe. Even if it’s only for half an hour until someone wakes up needing to pee or because of a nightmare. Lorena uses naptime as a chance for “lesson” planning as well as tidying and organising. Once the little ones start waking up, it’s bathroom-ing again, and getting them ready to be picked up shortly after their afternoon snack. It’s during this afternoon snack that Lorena’s day at Roots & Wings comes to its close. Bidding the wee ones hasta mañana, she and her husband hop on a bus that will take them back home.

And that in short, is what I do. 

  

Pictures with toddlers are hard, especially when they wave at the camera.