TEENS & TODDLERS
Journal Excerpts
Some favorites throughout the years...

“Thanks to this program I am different. This program made me change my mind about children. First I thought that children were loud. But I was wrong; these kids are the most beautiful things to play with. They change my life. By knowing them I realize that they understand every single thing that you tell them. They are our future, and thanks to our teachers I learn a lot about children. Imagine in the future, if this program continued this will help a lot of teenagers and when they are parents they will understand and will be prepared. I have changed; now I help children wherever I see them, if they need help I will help them.

All this is thanks to “Teens and Toddlers.” My mother had told me that I care about my cousins more than I used to; I told my mom this is because I’ve learned more about little kids and I started to love playing with them. When I have a kid I will always play with them and never give up.”

Here is a poem written by one of the teens.
When this student began the program he told us, “I have a 16-month old son and I don’t know how to be a father.” Four months later, he wrote this:

"Yes, I would be willing to give up the most creative part of my life for my child...

Because I love my child.
I could teach him things I had never done myself.
And I want him to follow my steps – only the good steps.
I will show my child from wrong to right.
And I will show my child how to love people and how to be a great young man.
I will teach him things my parents never taught me like how to be friendly, caring, loving and happy.
Once my baby gets older, at the age of 18,20,30,57, he will always be my precious baby."

“…my girlfriend who I really love a lot and who I give my heart to because she gave me something in this world that it is worth a lot to me more than my life and that’s my little boy. When I got shot at the age of 18 I felt like shit when I got to the hospital I was just thinking about every bad and good thing I had done in this world. But now that I have changed at least a little bit I don’t really mess around any more because I have my little boy to take care of. The skills I have learned throughout my life are in a way very good but then again they are not. Because I don’t really know a lot of good things I just know a lot of bad things. In a way I have done a lot of good things in this world, I have taught my child from good to bad and my little brother. I would like to get married with my baby’s mom….Yes there’s some steps that could help me out but then in a way they don’t really work out. I have tried some steps already but some work and some don’t but I don’t give up easily I’m going to try some new ones. So I could have what I really want in this world.”

"Well today is the last day I will get to see the teachers from Teens & Toddlers class and I am going to miss them a lot because they are sweet teachers and because they helped be a lot. They made me change my evil ways from bad to good now I treat my little boy like a king. Today was a good day.”

"The reason I chose this class because teaching little kids and helping them I teach me that it is hard to care for a kid well and in my age I am not prepared to have a baby.”

“…I talked to the teacher and she said she was pregnant so I told her what I learned that if you play classical music for the fetus it’ll be smart in math, she said thanks. There is another example of what the Teens & Toddlers class has taught me.”

“I’m sad that our time at the preschool is ending. I have really enjoyed it. I wonder what will happen to these kids; how will they live their lives? What is going to happen to them in the future, and I wonder if I’ve changed any of their lives and if they will remember me for very long. I would really like to continue this program next semester. I also hope more people will participate next time. I think it makes these kids feel special to have a big person to play with; it gives them something to look forward to and be happy about."

“I’ve learned a lot about communication with children, and I’ve begun to understand better how they tried to express themselves. Conflict resolution is not always about resolution, but about voicing one’s opinion on the conflict, and hearing what one another have to say. And setting boundaries: to look at what they (children) are doing and tell them what is acceptable.

Today my little friend Jack looked sad, so I asked him if he wanted to talk to me and he said yes and that he only wanted to play with me so we played. When I needed to leave he wouldn’t let me go. So I think he’s going to write me a little letter when I’m gone. He always says he never wants me to leave. I wonder how his life away from school is.”

“I really love children and I believe that they are a very important part of living. It’s amazing to watch a child grow up right before your very eyes. What I’ve learned is how to handle children and their problems. At (preschool) I learned how to take care of children’s needs while being firm as well.”

"The experience I had of discipline was being hit and yelled at. I would try to find different ways of disciplining my child now instead of hitting and yelling."

"Yesterday, me and my bother got into it about the phone. He started yelling at me so I yelled back. When someone yells at me I have to yell back for some reason. We were yelling back and forth but out of no where I just stopped and let him say what he had to say for a minute. Then I just walked away. Sometimes if I'm very angry I end up having physical contact but I'm controlling it a lot better now. I'm learning that yelling, hitting and using mean words doesn't solve the problem but makes it worse."

"My first day at (preschool) was well, I guess educational. I already knew that they would have countless energy and excited to see new faces with a new perspective on teaching young ones. I guess the only thing that took me was how the simplest thing I did had an effect on them. They seemed to be glowing even when I just talked to them. In all today served its purpose and I must say I enjoyed it."

"...I thought (the toddler) was just saying yes for the hell of it but actually he did pay attention and so I learned a lesson. You can’t judge what someone or a child is going to do on past issues and I was stood corrected.”

“I’m very sad that today is the last day of our class. It’s been so much fun and I don’t think a lot of the kids are going to understand. It’s strange; I really felt connected and appreciated on Wednesday. When I told them I had to leave Jackson looked like he was going to cry. He said he wanted to share his lunch with me so I had to stay. And when we got to clean up on the big yard I had four kids trying to hold my two hands. It made me feel really good.”

“I would quit all the bad stuff I do now to satisfy the lives of my baby and my spouse so they could have the best life that I could give them.”

“When I see these kids, sometimes I feel like a father, and sometimes I feel alone. And sometimes I think, that’s how I was when I was a little child – normal, friendly, and curious. With these kids, I show the love I feel and I feel something in my heart; what, I can’t explain to you, I feel good… I want to tell you, my English is not so good, sometimes I have problems to express what I want to say, but…these children love me; they are part of my life because I remember what I did with them, how fun it was, and how the teachers were with them, very friendly…

For me what was so great, what I am never going to forget is the first day in this school. I can tell you that these kids are special, that they are in a good place to learn.”

“Today was my first day at (preschool). I was nervous because I did not know what the kids were going to think of me. But it was all good…

Today was fun; just to see them all look up to me, it makes you feel good, it makes you feel like you are someone important.

(A little girl had hit another child.) “I told V. you don’t hit people, that it is not nice and told her can you please tell B. sorry and she said no. I told her would you like if B. was to hit you, would you have liked that and make you cry? And V. said no, and told B. sorry. I think if you let (children) know what they did and let them know how it feels, they will understand.”

"Well today was my first day in the Teens & Toddlers program. I enjoyed it but it’s a lot of hard work."

"I think I’m not going to have a baby because I’m tired to school and a “going out” person. I can’t go to school, work, and go out."

"I think the best time to have a baby is when you’re out of school and started in your career – like in your 20s."

"Today I found out about Teens & Toddlers and how it could affect my future as a husband and father. I like the idea of having to work with little kids because it'll show me how to keep my temper down when children get me angry. I think it will be a good experience."

"I just wish I can find out what the hell can I do now at 17 years old to change the world!?...or at least every damn person I can. By going to (preschool) I hope to make the kids smile, being their friend as well."

"I had a class like this once but it was different because I had to carry a computer doll for a weekend and treat it like if it was my real baby. The reason I chose this class because teaching little kids and helping them teach me that it is hard to care for a kid well and in my age I am not prepared to have a baby."

Question: How did the kids at (preschool) make you feel? (Developmentally disabled children)

Answer: "God, it was so overwhelming to be there. I cried; of how I tried to hold back the tears…they wouldn’t stop, but it’s okay. I’m human, and I love those kids so much and I don’t even know them. I felt so awful inside, and maybe that’s what drove me to cry. I take for granted all that god has given to me. I can walk, I can talk, I can read and write and think. I have an education; I live in such a wonderful country (even though it’s corrupt and “evil” at times). Like so many people have said, “you don’t know what you got til it’s gone”…and it’s so freaking true. (Or until you’re hit in the face with reality.) I just wish I can find out what the hell can I do now at 17 years old to change the world!?…or at least every damn person I can. By going to (preschool) I hope to make the kids smile, being their friend as well."

Answer: "The kids at (preschool) made me feel a little sad. Especially the ones that really can’t do things on their own. I remember all the kids that were smiling, I remember all of them. I’m no sure which kids I want to work with yet. I want to learn how to take care of them because you never know, that might be one of my kids in there."

Question: What is a normal child to you?
Answer: "There is no such thing! Everyone is more complex than just being a boy or girl, strong or weak, etc. To me being handicapped is just another trait."

Question: What scares you about people who are different from you?
Answer: "Nothing! We all have the same energy, all have blood that’s red, all have chi. There is nothing to fear from others since the only difference is the sate of mind."

Question: What would you do if you had a disabled child?
Answer: "The same thing if I had a regular child. I would strive to give him what is entitled to him, provide, and help grow up."

"Children always intake what we give off; if we are polite and show manners, such as please and/or thank you, the kids will pick up on that. If you’re loud, and angry, they’ll get loud and angry. And it’s about the little things that make life so important, like when we make children food, they may just eat it and not give any thanks or compliments, but inside they’re understanding that we’re loving them, even if it is just by giving them food."

"Today it was cool ‘till the end because one of the kids was colouring my clothes and being a brat but I didn’t yell at him because I think if I did he wouldn’t like it so I just told him not to do that and he didn’t listen but after a while he did. I played with the kids I amused them with an orange peel I put in my mouth then they started doing it. It was work but now it shows me what my child might do to me."

"Today was fun; just to see them all look up to me, it makes you feel good, it makes you feel like you are someone important."

"I felt special being the one that all those faces looked up to and for making them laugh. I hope I can make my kid(s) laugh like that one day.”

“After the days I was absent it felt good being around the kids. It seems like I grow more and more attached to them. Sometimes I do get tired of just pushing them on the swings but if they’re happy that’s what counts.”

"When a child wraps their arms around me, or when they smile as if I’m important, it’s a great feeling. I have low self-esteem and feel so worthless all of the time, but these kids make me feel so special… it’s been a while since I’ve felt like this."