In Mbarara

It is school vacation time and the kids have left school to return home for a few weeks of rest. They will be helping with digging up the family gardens, revising their previous terms school work, and goofing off as all kids do. Bek and I were asked by Uncle to come to the children’s home and stay with the kids who are in the project and who don’t have a family to go home with. The idea is to create as much of a home environment as possible.

The matron who lives here with the usual kids does a great job with them, but as some of the children went home, and others have come for the holiday, Bek and I came to help and to give her a bit of a rest too. The kids have household chores, they are learning the usual “life skills” they would learn if they had a home to go to.

Dishes, mopping, sweeping, milking the cow, cleaning the compound, cooking, serving meals- they are all contributing. Some mornings it is harder to motivate the kiddos, but most mornings they are faithful to do their part.

It is nice being back where it all started for me, in the children’s home. It is also a bit bittersweet as things are never the same as they once were. Some of the children are the same, others are new faces. Each one has a unique story, each child a unique struggle, a unique gift, a unique song to sing.

I laugh often as they are trying out their “American” accents, telling me stories, and dancing as they walk. I laugh with them as they try out new English words, and I try out new Rukiga words. We are communicating well all things considered.

In the evenings and at a few set points throughout the day we have family talks. The kids ask some tough questions and I am trying to be confident when answering, though sometimes I wonder if I am the best one to be answering some of their questions. Because I am their Aunt, and because I am here for them, I am the right one to answer their questions, but ‘parenting’ is hard when you feel like you are still a kid yourself.

Having been here almost a week I can say that each day is different, but each day good things happen. The ABIDE guys will be returning on Monday from their short holiday, so soon the compound will again be busy with kids and boys and the hustle and bustle of life in general. The kids are missing the ABIDE boys because they have been used to 10 older brothers telling them stories and playing football with them, I am excited to see how the new kids interact with the boys.

Mbarara is a lot hotter than Kabale, and the town is larger and busier too. I am working on becoming more comfortable in Mbarara as I look for the best internet cafes, best market stalls, etc. It is nice seeing old friends and making new ones too.