After lunch the kids headed to their naps and I retreated outside to read my book in the sun. It turned out that there was some sort of reunion happening in the pavilion out back of the center (the center rents out their extra space for extra income) and there were many families out talking and playing. I sat down on the grass and started to read, though I looked up and would wave to the children who passed by. The looked so nervous of me and yet so interested. I suppose because I have white skin. A little bit later I looked up to find a bigger kid (13) trying to push/coax a littler kid (8) to come talk to me. I asked them why they were afraid and they just ran away. I decided then that I was going to go talk to them. I got up and went inside for a moment to grab some M&M's to help coax them close (I kinda felt like I was trying to get puppies or chipmunks out of hiding haha) When I came back outside I heard one yelling "here she is! here she is!" and I yelled to them "Does anyone want chocolate?" of course a couple ran up to me and asked for some but some others were still wary. I just started talking to the kids and we exchanged English and Spanish words and really had some fun. After about an hour the kids had really warmed up to me and asked me to play with them. We played "Hide and Seek" and "Tag" simple games that everyone knows how to play, but the kids must have thought I was really silly because it took a lot of them explaining (in Spanish keep in mind) for me to understand haha.
One girl really caught my eye, she was the one wearing traditional clothes, she was very quite and stood far off observing all the going ons, she held a little baby (Byron) who was 7 months old and it made me wonder so much about her story. I called her over and asked about her and the baby. She was his older sister (13) and was taking care of him for her mother. She was not in school anymore because her dad said that she didn't need school and was more use at home, even though she said she loves school and wishes she could still go. She has 6 siblings (who are still in school) who she helps take care of. Her name is Carmen.
Carmen really makes me sad, can you imagine? At 13 years old being responsible for a little one and being taken out of school? When the kids asked me to play with them I asked her if she wanted to play as well, but she said no, because of the baby. I offered to hold him for her if she did want to play, but she declined. I do wish so badly that I was able to do more for her. I hope my trying to be caring was enough for her to feel it. Please keep Carmen and her family in your thoughts and prayers.
This evening I spent in the kitchen with the ladies and my goodness it was so much fun! We talked and talked and even though I don't speak a lot of Spanish and they don't speak English we were able to have a wonderful time!!
The girl on the far left is Carmen holding Byron
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